We barely notice them. A flash of blue above a pond, a lightning-fast trajectory through a garden, and they are already gone. Though discreet, dragonflies attract interest from a wide range of disciplines! Their flight performance inspires drones, their vision informs certain image-recognition algorithms, and the surface of their wings is studied to design antibacterial materials.
Beyond inspiring human innovation, their most valuable role may lie elsewhere, within their own environment. In recent years, one term has frequently been used to describe them: sentinels. This is no mere stylistic flourish. As silent witnesses to the state of ecosystems, ecologists are paying close attention to them…
Roy Van Grunsven
