Epic Record-Holding World Traveler Passing Through

 

Wandering Glider, World Record Holder for Epic Insect Migrations, Homer Lake Wetland, July 2, 2021

The wandering glider (Pantala flavescens) is the only dragonfly found on all six continents habitable by dragonflies (no dragonflies on Antarctica) and is the most impressive insect migrant discovered so far. Yes, the migration of the monarch butterfly population of North American east of the Rockies is impressive, traveling as far as from eastern Canada to Mexico, but in recent years scientists have realized that the wandering glider, in a massive multigenerational migration following the monsoon rains, travels from India to South Africa and back again every year, a round-trip journey of up to 8000 miles, more than twice the round-trip journey of the monarchs. Additional research suggests that rather than originating in the southern portion of the Indian subcontinent as originally supposed, these dragonflies may be coming from much further north and perhaps even crossing the Himalayas. Meanwhile, other research demonstrates that other populations of wandering gliders are highly, and impressively, migratory as well with wandering gliders apparently migrating from Tibet or China to Japan and back.

The wandering glider in the photo above was in the meadow adjacent to the wetland. These dragonflies reach adulthood from eggs in only about six weeks and so specialize in breeding in very small temporary bodies of water -- monsoon puddles in Asia, for example. In the years I've observed dragonflies at the wetland, I do not recall seeing wandering gliders breeding here, though they would certainly not have a problem reaching maturity before the wetland dries.

The wandering glider is actually a dragonfly often seen around town hovering over cars in large parking lots. Because they specialize in reproducing in small temporary bodies of water and because dragonflies can detect polarized light and because all reflected light is polarized -- not just the light reflected from small bodies of water -- these dragonflies are often seemingly attracted to the light reflected from parked cars. In flight they appear golden in color and are about two inches in length.  Keep your eyes open for them on your next hot summer day shopping trip!

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