Dragonflies and Damselflies of Flower Hill Farm
Dragonflies and Damselflies dart about the gardens and fields seeking prey. At times they are so numerous they appear as a cloud. Once I sat down on the ground in the crabapple orchard when there were hundreds of Darners darting about. I could hear their wings crashing into one another as they zigzagged close to the ground. Was it a feeding frenzy or a mating ritual? These beneficial insects are always a welcome sight in the gardens. I am just beginning to learn about them and their mysterious ways. These predators are also prey for birds. I have seen Tree Swallows feeding their young mouthfuls of Skimmers and Darners. Here are a few I have captured.
Odonata
Anisoptera ~ Dragonflies
Families – Skimmers, Darners, Petaltails, Clubtails
Zygoptera ~ Damselflies
