Why did some European traditions give dragonflies frightening names?

In European traditions, dragonflies have often been perceived as threatening, leading to the use of frightening vernacular names such as horse stinger and devil’s darning needle. These names reflect the insects' formidable appearance, despite the fact that dragonflies are harmless to humans.12

The term devil’s darning needle, for instance, stems from a superstition that dragonflies might sew up the eyes, ears, or mouth of a sleeping child, particularly one who had misbehaved. These labels are not based on scientific fact or taxonomy, but rather on long-standing folklore that contrasts with the more benign or auspicious views of dragonflies found in many Asian cultures.21