類別

昆蟲與蜘蛛（昆蟲）

參賽者

蘇同新

作品名稱

粗鉤春蜓羽化 Eclosion of Ictinogomphus rapax Dragonfly

科學圖說 Scientific introduction

人潮熙攘的高鐵站旁，水池裡的粗鉤春蜓趁著日暮悄悄羽化。對比下方黑色水蠆，新生身軀大的不成比例。粗鉤喜歡在葉面羽化，與一般蜻蜓慣常在池壁或枝條的習性不同，少了重力幫助，翅膀與腹部展延全靠體內液壓撐起。微皺的翅膀末端呈迷人卻含蓄的桃紅，腹部延伸完成後會排除體液，接著展翅晾乾等候日出飛翔。人潮依舊，再平凡不過的日常，卻沒人發現粗鉤春蜓正經歷一場關鍵的轉變，彷彿毫無交集卻完全重疊的兩個世界，值得停下腳步佇足欣賞。

This common club-tail dragonfly (Ictinogomphus rapax) is seen eclosing at a pond next to a busy high-speed rail station at the end of a day. In comparison to the black nymphal shell below, its new body is disproportionately large. This species prefers to eclose on leaf surfaces, while most dragonflies prefer pond walls or branches. Without the help of gravity, this insect uses internal hydraulic pressure to extend its wings and abdomen. Once the abdomen has been extended, and excess fluid excreted, the pinkish wrinkled wings need to dry overnight before it can take off. No one but me discovered this dragonfly undergoing transformation. It is worth it to slow down and appreciate what is around us.