British and Taiwanese bioengineering specialists conducted a study on aerial battles between male dragonflies. They found that these territorial clashes follow principles similar to the maneuvering dogfights of fighter jets. Unlike hunting prey, in these skirmishes, male dragonflies try to position themselves behind their rivals, avoiding direct collisions. During these encounters, the g-forces can reach up to 6g.

The mechanics of aerial hunting in predatory insects are well understood: the hunter chooses the shortest interception path to catch its prey with minimal energy expenditure. However, aerial duels between males over territory have a different dynamic. In a study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, researchers analyzed the maneuvers, evasions, and aerobatic elements performed by dragonflies.

The experiment took place near the ponds of the Taipei Zoo, using cameras that recorded at 250 frames per second. The model species chosen were male Trithemis aurora dragonflies, known for aggressively defending their territories over water.

During the study, more than 100 three-dimensional trajectories of paired aerial battles were recorded and digitized. Algorithms were used to calculate speed, centripetal acceleration, viewing angles, and wingbeat frequency. Based on this data, the researchers modeled the dragonflies’ aerial duels.

The analysis showed that during combat, dragonflies do not try to capture or destroy each other, but simply maintain visual contact. Their visual-motor system is tuned to keep the opponent in a specific spot in their field of vision—directly ahead and about 12 degrees above the horizon. As they close in, the pursuer slows down to avoid a collision.

During these duels, dragonflies perform complex aerobatic maneuvers such as loops and descending spirals, sometimes up to four turns in a row. If the pursuer flies too fast and cannot brake in time, it overshoots the target and is forced into a loop. To escape pursuit, the losing male dives sharply downward and sideways, leaving the opponent’s field of view, after which the roles switch. The fight ends when the pursued male leaves the territory.

At the height of the battle, dragonflies spend about 37% of the time gliding without flapping their wings, using short wingbeats only to change direction. This allows for smooth flight and stabilizes their vision. During sharp turns, the insects experience forces up to 6g.

Unlike airplane pilots, who try to gain altitude to build up potential energy, dragonflies prefer to attack from below. This position makes it easier to track the dark silhouette of an opponent against the bright sky, rather than against the mottled background of vegetation.

The study could not distinguish between territory owners and intruders, although different motivations may affect the sharpness of individual maneuvers. The research showed that visually complex and aggressive aerial duels do not require advanced intelligence: the insects’ behavior is entirely determined by simple navigational rules, limited only by the physical capabilities of their bodies.