Last weekend, a massive swarm of dragonflies unexpectedly “landed” on Misquamicut Beach in Westerly, Rhode Island, USA, causing panic among many tourists who screamed and created chaos in the area.
Richard Sontag, who shared a video from the beach, referred to it as an “invasion.”
According to local residents, on July 27, the massive swarm of dragonflies appeared at Misquamicut Beach at 11 AM (local time). At the time of the incident, hundreds of tourists were sunbathing and relaxing on the beach.
Martin, a tourist, stated: “I was enjoying a beautiful day at Misquamicut Beach until we had to endure a dragonfly disaster.”
The sight of thousands of dragonflies flying chaotically sent many people into a state of fear, causing them to scream. However, some tourists appeared calmer, remaining still as the dragonflies flew by, only using their hands to shoo them away from their faces.
Some individuals took the opportunity to enjoy the bizarre event by taking photos and recording videos.
Thousands of dragonflies flying chaotically caused fear among many.
As of now, there has been no official conclusion as to why suddenly thousands of dragonflies appeared on the beach.
According to entomologist Gale Ridge, who spoke with Eyewitness News: “The massive swarm of dragonflies at Misquamicut Beach is of the green dragonfly species, and they may be on a migration journey from Canada to other regions. The combination of warm sea temperatures and wind may have pushed the insects to Misquamicut Beach.”
Ms. Ridge added: “I have never seen so many dragonflies at once, but I think they are bringing a message of good luck, so people shouldn’t panic.”
According to her, dragonflies help control mosquito populations, with one dragonfly capable of eating anywhere from 30 to several hundred mosquitoes each day. Since dragonflies are aquatic insects, a large swarm like this is also a sign of a healthy environment.
