What’s Up With All Of The Dragonflies In North Dakota?

Before we know it, summer will be over. The trees will lose their leaves, the birds will fly south, and the bugs will be gone.

Speaking of bugs, have you noticed that there have been more dragonflies this year in North Dakota? Is it just me, or are they EVERYWHERE?

More Dragonflies in North Dakota

It seems that, at least around my home, there are more of these winged insects buzzing around than in previous years.

According to The Dickinson Press, the influx of dragonflies in the upper Midwest usually only lasts for about 2 to 3 weeks during hatching season.

Yes, according to Today's Homeowner, dragonflies have a hatching season. This occurs every year from late July to early September.

The Scientific Reason

If you’re seeing more dragonflies this year due to a combination of these factors.

1. Standing Water

If your house is located next to a large body of water, such as a pool, birdbath, or pond, it can attract large numbers of mosquitoes and dragonflies.

2. Habitat Changes

You might see more dragonflies in North Dakota if a new pond or a lake was created. This can lead to a population boom,

3. Weather Conditions

Dragonflies love warm, white conditions, and North Dakota has been very warm and wet over the past few months. We got quite a bit of rain, and I’ve been enjoying the summer. When there’s ample rainfall, this creates a favorable breeding condition for dragonflies.

4. Increase In Prey Species

Dragonflies are predators. They feed on things like mosquitoes, flies, and termites. If there’s been an increase in the population of the prey species, the number of dragonflies might also increase to eat the food.

Keeping Dragonflies Away

If you don’t know, dragonflies are virtually harmless to humans. They do us a great favor by feeding on other pesky bugs like mosquitoes, ants, and termites.

Nevertheless, according to todayshomeowner.com, if you want to keep dragonflies out of your yard, you should reduce the use of your sprinklers.

You should also remove any clutter, debris, rotting water, or piles of trash that might attract the insect.

You also want to keep your grass trimmed and neat, as this is where they will lay their eggs.