2026 Winter Tanner Lecture with Dr. Jessica Ware

Did you know, dragonflies mate while flying in midair?

At this semester’s Tanner Lecture on Thursday, February 12th, entomologist and Curator and Division Chair of Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History, Jessica Ware, masterfully outlined key aspects of the evolutionary history of dragonflies.

Students, faculty, and members of the public were awed as Dr. Ware walked us through the evolution of some of the key traits that dragonflies have optimized over their 300 million year history. Dragonflies are an incredibly diverse and wonderful group of insects that can be found across the globe—everywhere from puddles in parking lots to remote jungles. In case you missed the lecture, here are 3 fun facts about dragonflies:

1. Early dragonflies during the carboniferous period could be over a foot long!
2. Dragonfly wings are optimized depending on if they are primarily “fliers” or “perchers” that spend more time resting on plants.
3. Dragonflies such as the Globe Skimmer, Pantala flavescens, will migrate thousands of kilometers!

After her lecture and the refreshments, Dr. Ware was kind enough to take a look at our very own invertebrates here at the Bean. Our Chilean Rose-Hair tarantula, Belle, was even deemed “gorgeous.” Many thanks to Dr. Ware for sharing her time and expertise with all of us here at the Bean.

Margaret, museum educator