Just so you know, the bug season in Maine starts around July 1 and continues until August 1. Before July 1, things are still fairly cool outside and you can do what you want. When July rolls around, you have to go hide inside. The bugs, coupled with the humidity will make you want to visit Iceland for the month. But when August arrives and you get your first glimpse of the zillion or so dragonflies, you can rest assured that the good times are right around the corner.
A few weeks ago, I’d stand outside in the pool area, and lean up against the fence to watch the dragonflies do their work. I have no idea how many there were zigging and zagging up and across the back yard, but I can tell you they were in the hundreds. They start flying around in the hunt for food (flies) around dusk and continue into the night. When it gets really dark, they go to sleep. It’s amazing to watch the dragonflies do such a wonderful job at getting rid of all those other bugs out there.
It’s not terribly noticeable when you don’t have to swat flies from swarming your face, but when you do realize there aren’t as many as there used to be, you start to wonder why. It’s the dragonfly, my friend. They eat everything. And if you watch them fly around, you’ll see that they travel in rows and columns with almost perfect precision. It’s the 90 degree turns that get me.
Laura just took this picture. She doesn’t know I stole it from her camera. Nothing is sacred around here.
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We have black flies in northeastern Maine that start between late April and mid May and don’t slow down til early July. I’m always thrilled (that’s an understatement) to see the dragonflies. It means the mosquitoes will be out in full force in the next two to three days but they feast on black flies, too. I’m grateful to have the dragonflies hovering helicopter style over my head.
Dragonflies are by far my fave but we don’t see as many as you’re describing here on LI. I wish I could watch them endlessly and notice how they fly and their behaviors but there are just too few. Next time try to get some video of them in their formations! Thanks for the beautiful picture though 🙂