#15: Stalker Alert
Apparently, humans aren’t the only creatures who suffer from unwanted attention. Female dragonflies have developed a clever survival strategy when faced with the advances of unwanted suitors. When a persistent and unwelcome male dragonfly pursues a female, she may resort to an extraordinary tactic: faking her own death. The female dragonfly will abruptly crash to the ground, falling from the air and lying motionless on the ground.
This dramatic performance convinces the persistent male that he has successfully driven her away or, worse yet, injured her. Often, this deception prompts the male to abandon his pursuit. Once her stalker has been fooled and flies off in search of other prospects, the clever female dragonfly will spring back to life, resuming her activities without the burden of an unwanted mate. Good for her!