ANIMALWOOD

Dragonfly

Hard to carve

The most successful predator on Earth — 95% hunting success rate.

Ponds, streams, and wetlands worldwide

Carve it in today's puzzle

Fun facts about the Dragonfly

Dragonflies catch 95% of the prey they pursue, making them the most successful hunters on Earth — lions succeed only 25% of the time. They can control each of their four wings independently, allowing them to fly backwards, hover, and change direction instantly. Dragonflies have compound eyes that cover nearly their entire head, giving them almost 360-degree vision. They are ancient insects: fossil dragonflies with wingspans of 70 cm have been found from 300 million years ago.

Carving the Dragonfly

The Dragonfly is one of the trickier carvings in the set. Its silhouette has multiple thin appendages and concave areas that require precise knife work to score well.

Save your Peeks — you will likely need at least one. Clear the large background areas first with the gouge, then switch early to the chisel and knife for the fine details. Rushing here leads to over-carving.

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