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08/27/07, 08:54 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Missouri
Posts: 431
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Dragonflies everywhere!
For the past two weeks, every evening, our pastures and garden are converged upon by hundreds and hundreds of dragonflies. Is there something in particular that is attracting them? The majority seem to congregate around 20 large hay bales in the corner of the pasture. Never have noticed them this thick before!
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08/27/07, 09:04 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 11,249
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We had a similar occurance here a couple of years ago. They seemed to be feeding on some tiny flying insects. No idea where you are located, but we are on the north shore of Lake Ontario, on one of the migratory routes for birds and insects... and I was told by a local wildlife expert that they tend to congregate and feed up and rest before attempting the lake crossing. They were a beautiful sight in the evening sunshine, hundreds of them, shining like gold as they flitted back and forth. A nice memory, and I'm glad you reminded me of it! 
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08/27/07, 09:09 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 7,425
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Maybe a mosquito hatch? Dragonflies love eating mosquitoes. I see them congregate and fly like apache helicopters as the bugs and mosquitoes get kicked up out of the lawn being mowed also. I love them around. The more, the better.
__________________
The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.
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08/27/07, 09:15 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Missouri
Posts: 431
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Yes, a welcome site.
I am in the northwest corner of Missouri......and the dragonflies are all over and tend to really swarm. Plenty of insects for them to eat! They are so thick, I am finding them in the grills of our cars! And they are huge! I wasn't sure what they were attracted to, but the insects hatching could be a very good guess about what is going on! I usually see them near or around the pond, but this year they are in our pasture and right next to the neighbor's cornfield.
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08/27/07, 09:18 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 11,249
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It would be some kind of insect hatch that would make them congregate.
I don't think it was mosquitoes the evening we saw them... although you are right, Moonwolf, about dragonflies loving them. We watched the dragonflies for ages and we were not getting mosquito-bitten. 
Now that I think about it more, it must have been into September. The milkweed pods in the field across the road were bursting and the silk was glowing gold in the late sunlight too. Quite a spectacular evening!
Last edited by MaggieJ; 08/27/07 at 09:22 PM.
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08/27/07, 09:34 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 7,425
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If you are having a wet year with lots of rain and wet ground, it's probably just a lot of bugs around that attracts more dragonflies to feed off of. It's been a dry July here, so not many dragonflies around. Some years in July after rains, the grass grows like mad and it's wet everywhere attracting mosquitoes. Just before dusk those dragonflies swarm in the thousands. I watch them picking off mosquitoes in flight. They seem to have keen eye senses to grab them quickly. They seem to consume very many, thank goodness! lol
__________________
The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.
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08/27/07, 09:59 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eastern N.C.
Posts: 8,834
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We have had a very dry year, but the last couple of days I've seen more dragonflies than any other time. I don't know what time of year they hatch out, but they are welcome here anytime they want to come.
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08/28/07, 05:29 AM
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An Ozark Engineer
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Powhatan, AR
Posts: 9,427
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I've also been watching the dragonflies the last several weeks. They're very pretty, and graceful as they dart about. They're usually the heaviest around dusk, when the mosquitoes like to come out. I really like the dragonflies.
NeHi
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08/28/07, 08:13 AM
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: near the current river in mo.
Posts: 1,370
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Dont Dragonflies only live for abouut 24 hours?
__________________
'It Is A Wise Father Who Knows His Own Child'
Shakespeare
A WOMAN MUST NOT RELY ON A MAN TO PROTECT HER, SHE MUST LEARN TO PROTECT HERSELF.
SUSAN B. ANTHONY 
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08/28/07, 08:29 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 11,249
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by paulaswolfpack
Dont Dragonflies only live for abouut 24 hours?
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Are you thinking of mayflies, perhaps? Dragonflies definitely live longer than that or they would have no need to eat all those mosquitoes.
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08/28/07, 11:19 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eastern N.C.
Posts: 8,834
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by paulaswolfpack
Dont Dragonflies only live for abouut 24 hours?
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Dont know how long they live ,but one day out to the store some guys were talking about how long skeeters live. One guy said one day another said three, the oldest man said I know they live longer than that because theres one every night in his bedroom he's been trying swat for thirty years. 
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08/28/07, 11:32 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: N. E. TX
Posts: 29,598
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Dragonflies are very benefical so I'm thinking they're more plentiful where there's insects for them to eat & also no poisons.
Patty
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08/28/07, 11:38 AM
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: near the current river in mo.
Posts: 1,370
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I had heard that on a pbs show the other day but I did find this it is well written so please enjoy,paula
http://www.dragonflydream.com/dragonfly.html
__________________
'It Is A Wise Father Who Knows His Own Child'
Shakespeare
A WOMAN MUST NOT RELY ON A MAN TO PROTECT HER, SHE MUST LEARN TO PROTECT HERSELF.
SUSAN B. ANTHONY
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08/28/07, 11:42 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: northcentral MN
Posts: 14,380
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I remember watching hundreds of dragonfly nymphs marching towards the shore of my lake. The seagulls noticed too and were busy eating them as they emerged from the water. I even found shed exoskeletons on the side of my house and it's 200' from the water. That's a long walk for such short legs.
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08/28/07, 01:44 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: 50 miles southwest of Louisville
Posts: 726
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It is a strange sight to those of us not used to seeing them. I posted about the flock we had here a couple weeks ago. They were large too. I did not know they 'flocked'.
Dragonfly thread
I've been up on this hill 11 or so years, always outside, and never have seen a swarm of dragonflies. Seen one or two here and there, but not like that. We still have quite a few flying around, but not all together, not since that evening. The closest pond is half mile down the hill. Strange.
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08/28/07, 02:37 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Iowa
Posts: 280
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They swarm whenever flying ants and termites leave the nest to start new colonies.
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