The word for dragonfly in Uganda is namankanga which means “that which frightens”.
And after being frightened by one in Uganda 50 years ago, I have avoided them ever since.
I was minding my own business, having a beer at the poolside bar of my hotel, when an attractive green insect about four inches long hovered by my arm.
It was gossamer light and looked about as threatening as a soft toy. But it bit me and the next day my arm had swollen to twice its normal size. On one side, I looked like Popeye after a tin of spinach; on the other side, a Twiglet.
Now I am told that my prejudice is unfounded. That my attacker must have been something else, because dragonflies do not inflict damage on humans.
This discussion all started over a beer. Well, most things in my life do.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about strange names for beers and Jill Lucas sent me a photograph of Young’s Damselfly elderflower lager.
Yes, the name took my breath away as well.
“My friends know I have a special interest in what I call ‘cultural’ dragonflies,” Jill said. “And as a consequence, they collect all sorts of artefacts for me connected, however loosely, to the insects.”
What, I asked, are cultural dragonflies? And she sent me a copy of her book, Spinning Jenny and Devil’s Darning Needle – both colloquial names for the beast – which is all about dragonflies and their association with man.
Dragonflies, it appears, have had a bad Press for years. They don’t sting, writes Jill. But they have been maligned through history as being associated with Satan and the devil.
They have been given names such as cow killer, ear cutter, flying asp and hoss fly. Myths from around the world claim they suck blood, can send you crazy and predit weather and war.
In the US, children who lie or swear are warned the Devil’s Darning Needle will stitch up their mouths. But that’s America. So I owe them an apology. Although I will still remain wary if one gets too close.
By the way, Young’s the brewers, who produced the Damselfly lager (it’s 5% strength), have produced other odd beers. How about their Double Chocolate? What lady could resist? Or their Christmas Pudding ale. How they get it in the bottle is a mystery. And I found an anagram site (anagramgenius.com) that turned “Young’s Damselfly Lager” into “O, my legendary glassful.”
Although Jill’s friend who supplied the bottle was less complimentary.
I, of course, couldn’t resist trying for an anagram of my own so I typed in my name and it came up with: “Slick on demonism.”
Which, when you think about it, is oddly apposite.
I have been demonising dragonflies for years.
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