California is seeing an unusual surge in dragonflies, with large groups appearing over parks, ponds and farms after warm spring and early summer rain. The insects have been especially noticeable around the San Francisco Bay Area, where residents have reported seeing dozens flying together. Oakland nursery owner Peter Veilleux even counted about 100 dragonflies in one group while walking his dog near Lake Merritt. The sudden appearance may look mysterious, but experts say weather conditions probably created the right opportunity for the insects to spread. According to The Associated Press(AP), dragonfly expert Kathy Biggs believes warm monsoon storms helped drive the increase, with many of the insects likely being ‘wandering gliders,’ a migratory species capable of travelling long distances. For Californians, the spectacle is not only striking but also useful, because these natural predators feed on mosquitoes and crop pests.
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