”Buri” or ”Toriko”, a traditional Japanese method of catching dragonflies

A unique and quaint method is described. It has been widespread as a traditional boy game until about the 1960s, but it is now becoming rare and on the verge of extinction. – The method uses a silk thread. 60-80 cm long, with a weight tied at each end. Boys throw this tool up into the sky in front of large species, such as e.g. Anotogaster sieboldii or Anas parthenope julius. The dragonfly mistakes the weights for live bugs and swoops to catch them. At this moment it becomes entangled in the silk thread and it is forced by the weights to fall down to the ground. In this way. the dragonflies are captured alive and unhurt. The idea is similar to that of lure-fishing, and takes advantage of the predatory behaviour and habits of aeshnids and cordulegastrids.