2] Outdoors Veritable flying dragons dart swiftly Now that late spring is here and summer is almost upon us, it is a good time of the year to begin your observations of those fascinating insects, the dragonflies. Since these insects are widely distributed throughout the prov- ince, summer holidayers are apt to encounter some of them in almost any bit of freshwater habitat at hand. Dragonflies are ideal insects to study firsthand since they are so very visible, often highly colored, and have remarkable powers of flight, interesting mating habits and life histories. Like the birds, they often tend to be highly tern- torial as well. Dragonflies have had a long geological history, some of their ancestors dating back, relatively unchanged, for some 300 million years. One very ancient ancestor, belonging to the group Protodon- ata, is the largest insect ever recorded. It had a wingspan of two and a half feet but otherwise was very much like forms which course our marshes today. What a thrill it would have been to see one of them pursuing its prey over one of our ponds! Some 5,000 species of dragonflies have _been described in our present world. Dragonflies belong to the same order as the damselflies which are more slender, less sturdy and rela- tively weak fliers. They tend to occupy the same general habitat © but are easily distinguished. When at rest, damselflies hold their two pairs of very slender wings above the body and parallel to it while the wings of dragonflies project sideways and somewhat horizontal asin our photo. The wings of both are gauze-like and net-veined. ‘Dragonflies have had a long geological history, some relatively unchanged, for some 300 million years’ Dragonflies are powerful preda- tors throughout their lives. The larvae grow up in water — in sloughs, lakes or streams — con- suming smaller forms of aquatic animals, which they chew up with their strong jaws. They are stocky greyish-green critters that secure their oxygen from the water which they pump in and out of the anus. They may also expel the water swiftly which enables them to shoot forward 2 jet propulsion. One of the wonders of draeon. flies consists of the relatively huge APPLY NOW! Call Evelyn Tumer 370-3321 compound eyes which form most of the head. Each is composed of about 30,000 individual units, par- ticularly adapted to picking up the presence of any object crossing the field of vision. Dragonflies are able to propel themselves through the air at speeds of 25 miles per hour by means of the powerful flight mus- cles attached directly to the base of the wings (Hickman). They become veritable flying dragons, darting swiftly here and DRAGONFLY there as they capture air-borne insects in the basket formed by the six long-spined legs and dismem- bering them with their powerful Jaws while in flight. At mating time the males set up territories in which they attract mates and fight off rivals. I suspect that anyone who has spent much time around freshwater in the sum- mer has witnessed the interesting tandem pairing of male and female as sperm are transferred to the female in mid-air. Eggs are laid either in plant tissue or in the water, the male often hovering close by during the process. The larvae pass through many Slages or “in-stars” while growing up, requiring from several weeks to perhaps five years for those in very cold water. Mary and I happened upon the emergence of thousands of adults one summer moming at Lake Wabamun, about 80 miles west of Edmonton. The larvae had crawled up into small willows and spruce where they had split and released the Captivating inmates to share our intriguing world. Cy Hampson Photo founue Cl -GAewW- 207 - 2031 Malaview Ave. COMPLETE LINE | OF HOME BREWING PRODUCTS “FILTERED WATER SAUTOMATIC “THERMOSTATICALY Suny) FOO one u 5 0 WER STEEL THROUGHOUT C “BREW AT HOME “FILTERING OF USE OUR FACILITIES WINE & BEER took YE OR USE OUR FA (across from Slegg Lumber) 659-7121 ADULT SPECIAL EDUCATION IS YOUR GOAL TO GET A JOB? Do you feel limited by a: Learning Disability, Physical or Emotional Handicap? YOU CAN FIND HELP AT CAMOSUN COLLEGE Camosun College offers a program in Basic Employment Readiness Training for adults with special needs. We can help you set realistic goals, prepare you for a job search and assist you in obtaining training. Vocational assessment and support services are available. Y Camosun College Adult Special Education Camosun College Fisher Building, Room 128 3100 Foul Bay Road Victoria, B.C. V8P 5J2 TheReview Wednesday, June 6, 1990 _*. Learn to Sail ) Get on board one of our Canadian Yachting Assoc. courses this summer and learn to sail among the Gulf Islands. Island Breeze Sailing We'll arrange a CYA certified beginner, intermediate or navigation course around your schedule. ge _— NAVIGATION SAILING WEEKEND = June 15 Evening to June 17 p.m. et — GARY UTLEY __477-5396 GOOD BOOKS By Echo Eburne GREAT GRILLING With the good weather and longer evenings arriving at long last, many people are bringing their barbecues back out onto their decks for leisurely enjoyment of summer meals. It always seems more relexed than cooking indoors especially when the temperatures begin to climb. For this week’s review, two Dale on barbecue and summer meals are highlighted. Lonnie Gandara’s “365 Great Barbecue and Grilling Recipes” is a ee forward, no-nonsense cookbook. It is spiral bound with wire ” binding that lies flat when opened and has a washable cover eich makes it excellent for the deck. Gandara covers all aspects of great meals from appetizers to desserts, with a chapter on grilling basics. All recipes are in standard measurement. “The Canadian Living Barbecue and Summer Foods Cookbook” by Margaret Fraser and the Food Writers of Canadian Living Magazine continues the tradition of excellence as all other “Canadian Living” books have. Accompanied with numerous color photographs | and useful charts, the book offers over 175 recipes, as well as complete menus for outdoor entertaining — from co-op barbecue dinners for 20 to kids’-style. Cooks are reminded of alli basic information plus current information on equipment and techniques. Both standard and metric measurement are used in the recipes. Both books would be welcome and useful additions to cookbook shelves. However, if you don’t barbecue and’stilbwish:to:change'to a lighter, more casual fare for summer meals, Tanners does stock an excellent selection of cookbooks that is sure to-please your special taste. B.C. 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