Bermuda Welcomes Thousands Of Dragonflies
While Bermuda’s fall migrations are a sight to behold, birds aren’t the only animals that come to make their mark on the island; we are currently playing host to thousands of Wandering Glider dragonflies, with one recently captured on camera at Bernard Park.
Photo by Andrew Dobson of the Bermuda Audubon Society:
A post on social media from the Society said, “Bermuda doesn’t just experience a fall migration of birds. There are currently thousands of Wandering Glider [Pantala flavescens] dragonflies in Bermuda. This one was at Bernard Park with the long-staying Wood Duck.”
According to the website of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature [IUCN] Red List, “Pantala flavescens is a circumtropical species known from all continents crossed by the equator. It is an obligate migrant of which the migrations are linked to the monsoon front and which is commonly recorded from all African countries pertaining to the Afrotropics.”
Photo by Andrew Dobson of the Bermuda Audubon Society:
“In the Americas, the species is widespread in the whole Neotropics and migrations reaches the southeast of Canada throughout the whole northern America, except the northwest of the USA and Alaska.”
Read More About
Category: All, Environment, News
Interesting, I spotted one outside my door near the outside light the other night. They are LOUD!
Do they sting? That’s the one thing I was always afraid of as a child.
No, all dragon and damselflies are incapable of stinging. What looks like a sting on the rear end is in fact an ovipositor [on females only obviously ;o) ]
They look fierce, are relatively large, and can be pretty loud. Go figure they’re relatively harmless.
Yes I got stung by everything when I was little
They were hanging out at 9Beaches/Daniel’s Head on Friday
Wow we had a few dozen in our backyard Friday Nite. That was a first!
The Dragonflies and the Doctor Bees aren’t they two the same? I can vividly recall seeing Doctor Bees while coming-up yet, seem to no-long see them…
I was recently discussing how we use to see the Doctor Bees flying about as well as Crabs crossing the roads,(mostly along Southshore) but for some reason they’ve become scarce and I thought birds were responsible for the decrease in numbers.
Dragonflies and doctor bees are different, doctor bees are red wasps. Someone asked if dragonflies sting, they actually do not but doctor bees most certainly do. I had couple stings while coming up as a kid…oh the pain.
You are right about how scarce they appear to be these days. I saw one while on a walk a few months ago and said to my girl “heeeey, a doctor bee!!” and then scurried away from it like we did as kids. Them and those big silk spiders, i dont see them very often anymore either.
I just had 3 in my backyard this evening
We had about 40 in our yard it was a bit alarming as we were afraid of being stung and they blocked both exits from our home. Kinda glad to hear its only temporary. How do insects survive the migration across the Atlantic?
Dragonflies do not bite or sting. They eat mosquitoes and usually are found near ponds and standing fresh water.
My information says dragonflies do not sting, but I will verify. What they are, is a potent symbol of positive change transformation. They are amazing insects, have 4 metamorphosis to the butterflies’ 3. They are the longest lived of all insects, sometimes as long as 6 months. They can reach flying sites of 60 miles an hour and, as we see, can fly hundreds of miles. They primarily feed on mosquitos, which is a major blessing after all this rain, do please do not kill them
I came home last week Thursday and was amazed at the amount that were down here in St. David’s. I’ve never seen that many all at once before. I wish I had taken a picture.
Dragonflies do not sting or bite. If you did capture a dragonfly, it might try and nip you but it would take a HUGE dragonfly for you to even feel a pinch.
Perfectly safe and beautiful!