Birds eat dragonflies straight away. Bees and wasps, on the other hand, first kill them by striking them forcefully against a hard surface before eating them. They then knead them with their feet to ensure that the poison glands of the dead insects are emptied.
Taxonomy
Bee-eaters (Meropidae), genus Merops (28 species)
Habitat
open landscapes with scattered trees
Migratory behaviour
European population is moving to Africa
Social structure
in pairs, breeds in colonies
