I’ve heard reports of massive dragonfly swarms from around Ohio over the past few days. Most of these insects are probably Common Green Darners (the species in the accompanying photo) and Wandering Gliders. These species are highly migratory,
and migrant swarms become conspicuous when they descend to feed near the ground. The dragonflies are mostly capturing gnats, winged ants, mosquitos and other small flying bugs. Please comment if you’ve seen such a swarm, along with the general location and date/time, and
an estimate of the number of dragonflies. The following link goes to a more detailed article about this phenomenon:
https://ohiohistory.wordpress.com/2010/08/25/hundred-of-huge-dragonflies/
Thanks!
23 comments:
We saw a swarm as you describe about a month ago in my neighborhood in Wheaton, IL. It was pretty wild
I have seen large dragonfly swarms around Newport, Mi. +100
Tom Jere
We saw what had to be more than a hundred of them in Bellbrook, OH, in our back yard. There's a small pond behind us (we're all 5-10 acres apart). They were huge dragonflies-a humming bird was flying around, in and out of the swarm, and they were about the same size! A friend of mine was in SW Ohio, in Hillsboro, 45 miles to the SW, and she said she saw the same thing the same night (this was Sept. 3rd). I wish I could have caught one so I could see how big they really were.
Nancy
We saw what had to be more than a hundred of them in Bellbrook, OH, in our back yard. There's a small pond behind us (we're all 5-10 acres apart). They were huge dragonflies-a humming bird was flying around, in and out of the swarm, and they were about the same size! A friend of mine was in SW Ohio, in Hillsboro, 45 miles to the SW, and she said she saw the same thing the same night (this was Sept. 3rd). I wish I could have caught one so I could see how big they really were.
Nancy
I went down to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park yesterday in the evening near Red Lock. I was looking for migratory nighthawks. I saw an unusual number of dragonflies just above treetop level. The chimney swifts were feeding in the same area; but, they were higher up in the sky. There are a lot of fields in that area. So, they could be resident insects. But, that valley is a migratory corridor for birds. So, it could be used by the dragonflies, as well.
(Only 2 nighthawks recorded.)
Had a swarm of 40-60 green darners this evening in the back yard,working a shaded area close to a building. About an hour later they were still there but had moved about 10yds east,into the shadows. We have seen swarms every year for the past 10yrs. Flying above the darners were 6 tree swallows.
We were on the beach in Huron, OH on 8/4/2015. At any point, if you looked up, you would see several green darners. I would say hundreds hanging out along the lake in that one spot. Probably feasting on mayflies that were emerging at the time.
About 1 mile east of Orient in the early evening hours on Thursday Sept 3
Near the Maumee River in Monclova Township OH on 9/5 and 9/6 both evenings in-between 6:30pm and 8:30pm literally 1,000's of them in our yard and the adjoining yard. It was AMAZING! They were pretty big and very fast, just flew around us. We are seeing a couple here and there this evening.
Sept 3 Mid day 100 to 200 maybe more,, NOT really a SWARM... But they filled the sky where ever you looked. in Marblehead Ohio
Hey Jim. While walking the butterfly transect at Big Darby Headwaters, Steve and I noted dozens and dozens+ of Green Darners flying over the fields feeding and heading generally south. AWESOME.
Hecla, in Lawrence County Ohio. On September 6th, over 100.
Hecla, in Lawrence County Ohio. September 6th I had more than 100 in the yard.
Ashland, Ohio near St Rt 603 and 545. Easily over a hundred, surrounded the house.
Western Pike County, Ohio near St Rt 124. All around the house, too many to count but looks like between 150 to 200. Almost the same size as my hummingbirds.
August 22, 2019 7:38 p.m.
Monroe County south of Beallsville near the intersection of SR 26 & CR 1. All over my yard. Way too many to count. Looks like a thousand of them. Almost as big as a hummingbird as previously stated in other posts.
I have a swarm surrounding my house morrow county Ohio about 6:00 pm still going on all most 7. Size. Large covering about 5 acres.
Tuesday September 10th 630-7pm southern ohio lucasville 45648 scioto county. Huge swarm of dragonflies
Huron ohio large swarm covering a couple acres area.
Loveland, Ohio tonight... at least 100 all over our acre and the acre next door
Southern Huron County. 1000+
I had about 30-40 in my backyard tonight at about 6pm EST in Cincinnati tonight.
We saw a swarm on the evening of September 10, 2019 and also on August 31 in Trenton ohio. We experienced this same thing last year during the late summer.
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