Lunging after prey: dragonfly larvae

1 of 1 Dragonfly Larvae / Chris Hoving / License

The larvae of dragonflies squirt water out their anuses to lunge forward after prey thanks to hydraulic linkages.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Move or stay put >
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	In/on liquids

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Hydraulics design Packaging--dispersing liquids

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Hydraulic linkages occur in a wide variety of biological systems…In addition, one can point to the predatory strike of dragonfly larvae, which lunge forward by squirting water out their anuses (Tanaka and Hisada 1980)…" (Vogel 2003:420-421)

About the inspiring organism

Anisoptera
Anisoptera

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Car or tractor design, mechanical applications. Packaging--dispersing liquids.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Automotive, mechanical

References

Steven Vogel. 2003. Comparative Biomechanics: Life's Physical World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 580 p.

Tanaka, Y; Hisada, M. 1980. The hydraulic mechanism of the predatory strike in dragonfly larvae. Journal of Experimental Biology. 88: 1-19.

Lunging after prey: dragonfly larvae

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