Dragonflies Thriving at NJ Shore This Year
Dragonflies are swarming the Jersey shore as summer comes to an end
Monday, Sep 6, 2010 | Updated 8:15 AM EST
Sue and John Ptak
Dear Brant, Both of these photos were taken in Leelanau County, MI. The thundercloud building in the distance was shot from the top of the Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore and the dragonfly was shot on the beach at Big Glen Lake. Sue Ptak, Alsip, IL
Swarms of dragonflies not seen in years are flitting throughout New Jersey in spectacular numbers on the Shore's salt marshes.
That's where they are busily devouring greenhead horseflies that began attacking people early in June.
The dragonflies' sweeping of the marshes helped tamp down what was an ugly greenhead season. The biting flies seemed to emerge several weeks early with the onset of 90-degree-plus days in June.
Aquatic biologist Allen Barlow says dragonflies are among the few predators that eat big, biting insects like greenheads and deerflies.
This summer is reminiscent of 2005, when the dragonflies made a big appearance with the end of the multiyear drought of the early 2000s.
Copyright Associated Press
Posted Monday, Sep 6, 2010 - 8:13 AM EST
Top Stories
