Damsels & Dragons with Dr. Brenda Smith

Have you ever been outside on a warm day and thought, "I wonder how dragonflies see the world." If so, this episode is for you! From upwards of a 7yr childhood, to eyes that connect directly to their wings, Dragonflies have been the subject of wonder for thousands of years, but how much do we know about these high-speed racers? I sat down with local Damselfly and Dragonfly researcher Dr. Brenda Smith (she/her) to ask questions about the life history, abilities and threats facing these aerial fighter pilots. Get your eyes on the skies and below the waves as we learn about their not so ancient distant relatives, scientific mysteries, and why dragonflies are natural born assassins! Links: OdonataCentral.org iNaturalist.org Ou.Edu/biosurvey Her Book: Dragonflies at a Biogeographical Crossroads: The Odonata of Oklahoma and Complexities Beyond Its Borders by Brenda D. Smith and Michael A. Patten, with contributions by Roy J. Beckemeyer and Bruce W. Hoagland If you find my lack of single mindedness entertaining, want to learn about ecology, or just want to follow a naturalist and bodybuilder, check out my Instagram @The.Fit.Naturalist If you want to shop some hand drawn, hand designed, art that helps save species, swing into the website at TheFitNaturalist.com To support vis Patreon, tap here or search The Fit Naturalist patreon,com/thefitnaturalist/ Thanks for listening, or at least thanks for reading.