Dragonfly that lights up (2 Viewers)

[Maroon Jay]

Has anyone ever seen a dragonfly that lights up like a firefly? Saw one today. It was flashing on and off a very bright orange colour in daylight. It was not a reflection from the sun as it was not moving or changing position.

 

[Mono]

Where was this? I'm not aware of any bioluminescent dragonflies.

 

[pdwinter]

In this recent publication https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jzo.12963 it says "Bioluminescence, the fourth type of color production in animals, has not been reported for odonates"

Added: Reading the article further there are some some dragonflies which exhibit fluorescence.

 

[irfanmohammad2010]

I have seen a few of them in my childhood in my hometown. They used to be much bigger in size than the normal ones. I am disappointed that even google has no images for that.

 

[dantheman]

It hadn't caught some bioluminescent prey, which was luminescing in response to being caught/squeezed/eaten??

 

[irfanmohammad2010]

No, they were some different colored ones, bigger than the others, also some greenish blue color.
We did get hold of some during the butterfly hunting.
We had no phones then, otherwise would have been a very good thing to have today. I miss them.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Did you find some mushrooms?

 

[etudiant]

Has anyone ever seen a dragonfly that lights up like a firefly? Saw one today. It was flashing on and off a very bright orange colour in daylight. It was not a reflection from the sun as it was not moving or changing position.

Where in Canada was this, please?

 

[etudiant]

No, they were some different colored ones, bigger than the others, also some greenish blue color.
We did get hold of some during the butterfly hunting.
We had no phones then, otherwise would have been a very good thing to have today. I miss them.

Where was this, please, India is a big place.

 

[irfanmohammad2010]

Where was this, please, India is a big place.

In Kalaburagi, Karnataka

 

[etudiant]

In Kalaburagi, Karnataka

So really in the heart of the country. With the increased use of pesticides, there may well have been an impact on the insect species seen.
You say these were much bigger fireflies than normal, how big do think they were?

 

[Maroon Jay]

Where in Canada was this, please?

Where was this, please, India is a big place.

Not Canada or India. Seen in Tarapoto Peru.

 

[Jim M.]

Has anyone ever seen a dragonfly that lights up like a firefly? Saw one today. It was flashing on and off a very bright orange colour in daylight. It was not a reflection from the sun as it was not moving or changing position.

Would need to see photos or documentation from somewhere before I believe it. Likely just light reflecting off something else, e.g. ripples on water, that would make the reflection change.

 

[Jim D.]

Most likely it was sunlight reflecting off of the wings, which were moving, even if the insect was not.

 

[TanyaGiggles]

Yes. Today I saw a dragonfly’s tailing glowing on and off. I couldn’t believe my eyes but I have a video. I live in Cairns, Australia. I didn’t even realise at the time but at home noticed it when I was watching my video. But then everyone says that doesn’t happen. Just a play of sun?

 

[Andy Adcock]

Yes. Today I saw a dragonfly’s tailing glowing on and off. I couldn’t believe my eyes but I have a video. I live in Cairns, Australia. I didn’t even realise at the time but at home noticed it when I was watching my video. But then everyone says that doesn’t happen. Just a play of sun?

What is supposed to be remarkable here, I see nothing?

 

[THE_FERN]

Yes. Today I saw a dragonfly’s tailing glowing on and off. I couldn’t believe my eyes but I have a video. I live in Cairns, Australia. I didn’t even realise at the time but at home noticed it when I was watching my video. But then everyone says that doesn’t happen. Just a play of sun?

Not glowing on and off, rather inflating and deflating as the insect pumps air into it. By "glowing" I think what you're seeing is change in expanse of the colour: the colour itself isn't changing (at least to my eye)

 

[IamFof]

Yes. Today I saw a dragonfly’s tailing glowing on and off. I couldn’t believe my eyes but I have a video. I live in Cairns, Australia. I didn’t even realise at the time but at home noticed it when I was watching my video. But then everyone says that doesn’t happen. Just a play of sun?

The video doesn't play. Just a grey square.

 

[IamFof]

Sorry. I got it to run.

Not glowing on and off, rather inflating and deflating as the insect pumps air into it. By "glowing" I think what you're seeing is change in expanse of the colour: the colour itself isn't changing (at least to my eye)

Agreed

 

[Tiraya]

I agree with others, it's likely a visual illusion caused by shifting angles of the body (in flight), wing reflection, or some other effect of sunlight interacting with the body that causes the effect. The video a couple posts up is a reasonable example, but I've seen instances where it was even more striking.