Dragonflies are highly effective aerial predators, and the short answer to whether they kill bees is yes. Bees, along with many other flying insects, fall within the natural prey spectrum of adult dragonflies. These insects are opportunistic hunters that capture their meals in mid-air, making any foraging bee a potential target.
Dragonflies as Generalist Aerial Predators
Dragonflies are carnivorous insects whose adult diet consists exclusively of other flying arthropods. They are non-specialist predators, consuming almost any insect they can successfully capture. Their meals typically include gnats, midges, and mosquitoes, but they readily prey on larger insects like butterflies, wasps, and bees. The size of the dragonfly largely determines its ability to take down a bee, with larger species being the primary culprits.
Species often referred to as darners or hawkers are most likely to successfully prey on bees due to their larger size and powerful flight. For instance, the Bee Butcher (Coryphaeschna ingens) is known for hunting honey bees near their hives in certain regions. Dragonflies spend their nymph stage in freshwater, so adults are often found patrolling open areas near ponds, streams, or wetlands. It is in these open spaces that their hunting paths overlap with the foraging routes of bees, leading to predation events.
Specialized Hunting Techniques
The dragonfly’s success as a hunter stems from a sophisticated combination of biomechanics and neurological processing. Their large compound eyes occupy nearly their entire head, providing them with almost 360-degree vision, except for a small blind spot directly behind them. Each eye is composed of up to 30,000 individual lens units called ommatidia, giving them exceptional visual acuity and motion detection. Approximately 80% of the dragonfly’s small brain is dedicated to processing this visual information, allowing them to track targets effectively.
Dragonflies do not simply chase their prey, but instead calculate a precise interception course. They use a predictive hunting strategy, anticipating where the bee will be and flying to that future point rather than the bee’s current location. This method allows them to achieve a capture success rate of around 95%, far exceeding that of most other predators. Their four wings are controlled independently, enabling them to hover, fly backward, and execute rapid, complex maneuvers during a pursuit.
The final step involves their six legs, which are covered in spines and positioned forward to form a structure often described as a “basket.” The dragonfly scoops the bee into this basket while in flight, immobilizing it instantaneously. The predator then consumes the captured insect mid-flight, often starting with the head to subdue larger, potentially stinging prey. This swift and precise technique overcomes the bee’s defensive capabilities and speed.
Ecological Role and Impact on Bee Health
Predation by dragonflies is a natural event and a component of the local food web. While the sight of a dragonfly capturing a bee can be alarming for gardeners or beekeepers, this localized predation does not pose a substantial threat to the health or survival of entire bee populations. The loss of a few individual foraging bees does not damage the overall strength of a large colony.
The scale of this predation is minor when compared to established threats that destabilize bee populations globally. The single greatest threat to honey bee colonies worldwide is the parasitic Varroa destructor mite, which feeds on the bees’ fat body and transmits debilitating viruses. Habitat loss and pesticide exposure also represent vastly more significant dangers to bee health than aerial predators.
Dragonfly activity is a natural control mechanism for various insect populations, including those that may be pests. The presence of dragonflies can also indicate a healthy, functional local ecosystem that includes a stable aquatic habitat. While individual bees are lost to this highly skilled predator, the overall ecological balance is maintained, and the impact on the long-term survival of a bee colony remains negligible.