Eating the Sting

One of my favorite books by a Minnesota poet when I was first beginning to read poetry was Eating the Sting by John Caddy. The title poem is built around the observation of a White-footed Deermouse eating a hornet and the possibilities involved in the transformation of poison and pain into something wide-eyed and energetic. I think of this poem whenever I see dragonflies eating wasps and bees.

For instance, today, a Midland Clubtail flew off toward a blossoming patch of Canadian Thistle and returned to a perch with a Honey Bee in its mouth. I hurried to get a photo, but before I could get a clear angle the dragonfly suddenly shuddered, whirring its wings and dropping the bee. I think it may have been stung.

One wonders how often dragonflies do get stung and if the sting poses any real threat to them. I've watched many meadowhawks dine upon small bees and wasps, the dragonflies showing no adverse affects whatsoever. And the large Arrowhead Spiketails routinely dine upon large paper wasps and hornets. Maybe it's like the old adage says: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Many dragonflies, especially clubtails, take on the coloration of wasps, which brings to mind yet another old saw: "You are what you eat!"

Posted on June 27, 2017 02:17 AM by scottking