Dragonflies survived asteroids but may get wiped out by climate change

By Stephen Beech

Dragonflies are facing extinction due to climate change , warns new research.

The iconic insects survived asteroids – but wildfires and climate change may wipe them out, say scientists.

The study, led by scientists at the University of Colorado , found that adaptation alone may not be fast enough to protect the species in a rapidly changing climate.

The research team found that global warming and intensifying wildfires are disrupting dragonfly mating patterns, threatening to push some species toward local extinction.

Their findings, published in the journal Nature Climate Change , show that dragonflies with dark wing spots – traits long linked to attracting mates – are now more vulnerable in a warming world.

The researchers explained that dragonflies play an e