Dragonflies (order Odonata) are high-flying, predatory insects, while termites (order Isoptera) are subterranean and typically hidden from view. This difference makes a consistent predatory relationship unlikely. This article explores the specific conditions under which these two insects might interact and clarifies the dragonfly’s role in the termite’s life cycle.
Dragonfly Hunting and Typical Prey
Adult dragonflies are highly effective insectivores, possessing a hunting success rate that can reach 97%. Their large, multifaceted compound eyes allow them to process visual information rapidly and track prey with precision. This visual dominance makes them one of the most successful predators in the insect world.
These agile fliers catch their meals while airborne, often using their spiny legs to form a basket-like net to scoop up smaller insects mid-flight. The adult diet consists primarily of other winged insects, such as mosquitoes, gnats, and flies. They are often seen patrolling territories near water, where their main food sources are abundant.
Before taking to the air, dragonflies spend a significant portion of their lives as aquatic nymphs, or naiads. These naiads are fierce predators that live in the water for months or years, ambushing prey from beneath the surface. They possess a specialized, hinged lower jaw called a labium, which shoots out rapidly to grab prey. Their aquatic diet includes small invertebrates, mosquito larvae, tadpoles, and small fish.
The Direct Relationship Between Dragonflies and Termites
While the dragonfly’s typical diet focuses on flying prey near water, a direct predatory relationship with termites occurs under specific, temporary circumstances. Termites are normally protected within their underground colonies or wood structures. They become vulnerable only during the brief, synchronized reproductive flight, known as a swarming event.
During this swarm, winged reproductive termites, called alates, emerge from the colony to mate and establish new nests. These alates are airborne and represent a sudden, concentrated food source. Dragonflies are opportunistic feeders and will aggregate in large numbers to feast on these swarming insects.
Observations confirm dragonflies darting down to intercept these flying termites, sometimes dismembering them in the air. This consumption is not a consistent dietary pattern; it is a temporary feeding frenzy based on the availability of the swarming alates. Dragonflies cannot access the vast majority of the termite population hidden within the colony. Therefore, while dragonflies readily consume flying termites, they are not considered a major control agent for established colonies.
Where Termites Live and Their Primary Predators
Termites are known for their cryptic lifestyle, residing primarily in subterranean tunnels, mounds, or within wooden structures. Their colonies are highly organized and protected from most external threats. Because of this habitat, consistent predators are those that can invade or breach their defenses.
The most significant and constant predators of termites are various species of ants, such as army ants, which launch coordinated attacks on colonies. Ants are capable of overwhelming the termite soldiers and workers, consuming them in large numbers. Specialized mammals are also major predators, including aardvarks, anteaters, and aardwolves. These mammals use their powerful claws and long tongues to breach mounds and consume thousands of termites.
Birds also play a role, particularly during the swarming season, with species like swallows and swifts catching alates in the air. Other predators include spiders, assassin bugs, and certain reptiles like lizards. The primary threat to a termite colony comes from ground-level or subterranean invaders that can directly access the colony’s interior.