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I am just trying to figure out what you find so offensive about them is all, no need for the hostility. I remember being scared of them when I was a kid until it was explained to me that they don't bite. I did try to help - I said remove their food source and they will go away. There must also be a water source nearby because the nymphs are aquatic.
I have seen swarms of dragonflies come through an area and know how uncomfortable it can be when you are out in it. They appear to move in mass sometimes and in my experience it does not last long so usually waiting them out for a day or so was all I needed to do.
I am just trying to figure out what you find so offensive about them is all, no need for the hostility. I remember being scared of them when I was a kid until it was explained to me that they don't bite. I did try to help - I said remove their food source and they will go away. There must also be a water source nearby because the nymphs are aquatic.
Again, I don't want to sit outside or walk in my yard with any type of bug flying around me and landing on me. Right now the issue just happens to be dragonflies and they are huge. Just not what I'm used to. There are a lot of people that don't like bugs especially large bugs and especially if they are on them. I know they won't hurt me, it doesn't matter. I don't want bugs on me and like I said maybe it doesn't bother you but it bothers me. You don't have to understand, that's fine but you are beating it to death. There is water, a small pond all the way in the back of my yard but I never go back there. My yard is 1.5 acres and the dragonflies are around the house so not sure...
Quote:
Originally Posted by cdelena
I have seen swarms of dragonflies come through an area and know how uncomfortable it can be when you are out in it. They appear to move in mass sometimes and in my experience it does not last long so usually waiting them out for a day or so was all I needed to do.
That's what someone else said but it's been over a month. I went out on my deck today to check it out and there were about 6 to 10 just swarming around there.
The pond and any adjacent wet areas are the mating grounds and home to the "baby" dragonflies. The adults have found tons of food in your backyard: gnats, flies, mosquitoes and all the stuff we usually call "bad" bugs. Get rid of anything attracting the bugs, like flowers and grass and fill in your pond and your problem will go away. That is why you don't see many dragonflies in urban areas.
I'm truly sorry something so pretty and so useful frightens you, they can be quite interesting to watch as they fly patterns in the yard chasing down 'skeeters' and bugs. If they do land on you they are being curious and checking you out... maybe they like the color of your clothes or hair, but they don't bite or spread disease. A few that I have seen in the last few days are close to the size of hummingbirds who also buzz me in the garden. I've been lucky to see both of them and purple martins make my yard nicer by day and some evenings I've seen bats do the same. Nature's exterminators don't put out nasty fumes like the chemical guys do either.
Yes! They are the size of hummingbirds! I went out on the deck again around 4:00 and there seemed to be less so maybe they are going away. If they were just flying around the yard I could deal with it. I think if I grew up around a lot of bugs it wouldn't be such an issue but I'm only use to an occasional ant or fly. To make matters worse I was bit by a tick several years ago and I'm still suffering the consequences of Lyme. I was just introduced to fire ants a few years ago when I moved south and they seem to not like me either. If I'm bit, half my foot swells up and it takes several weeks for the bite to go away. My SO gets bit and it's gone the same day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by J&Em
The pond and any adjacent wet areas are the mating grounds and home to the "baby" dragonflies. The adults have found tons of food in your backyard: gnats, flies, mosquitoes and all the stuff we usually call "bad" bugs. Get rid of anything attracting the bugs, like flowers and grass and fill in your pond and your problem will go away. That is why you don't see many dragonflies in urban areas.
I'm truly sorry something so pretty and so useful frightens you, they can be quite interesting to watch as they fly patterns in the yard chasing down 'skeeters' and bugs. If they do land on you they are being curious and checking you out... maybe they like the color of your clothes or hair, but they don't bite or spread disease. A few that I have seen in the last few days are close to the size of hummingbirds who also buzz me in the garden. I've been lucky to see both of them and purple martins make my yard nicer by day and some evenings I've seen bats do the same. Nature's exterminators don't put out nasty fumes like the chemical guys do either.
I love the day dragonflies show up -- the mosquitos and lots of other undesirables disappear. If you don't like them, get a screenhouse or screen the porch.
I get it, it's just annoying. I would either try to get rid of what they are eating so they wont come back anymore, or I would find out what they like to eat and set up food for them...far away from where you are.
You have some guys living in your lawn that the dragonfly finds very tasty. Get some bug spray that attaches to your hose and spray your lawn really well. No more food, no more dragonfly.
Purple Martins eat dragon flies. It won't help you this year but next Spring you could put up a martin house and become a landlord.
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