Some Enchanted, Others Terrified As Swarms Of Dragonflies Hit RI Shore

RHODE ISLAND — Beachgoers in Rhode Island had mixed reactions — ranging from enchanted to terrified — when swarms of thousands of migrating dragonflies descended upon Misquamicut State Beach and South Shore Beach last Saturday.

Many videos and photos have been shared online of the dragonflies, which, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Jesse Ferrell, appear to have been "caught up in a 'sea breeze front' which formed near shore and moved northwestward" as the dragonflies flew south July 27.

Some videos, like one obtained by Reuters and shared on multiple outlets including Straits Times, showed expletive-laced reactions, shrieks, and screams as the insects buzzed around in a crowd of bathers and loungers at one of the beaches.

"Oh my gawd [sic] I would literally disintegrate," one commenter wrote on TikTok. mm

Others enjoyed the experience, with TikTok user @themightymover sharing a peaceful video of the dragonflies with the caption "A dragonfly migration passed over South Shore beach in Rhode Island today. Some paused to rest with the beachgoers before continuing on their journey. It was so beautiful."

"So happy to see someone who enjoyed the experience instead of being scared by it," a commenter chimed in. "I would've enjoyed this magical moment so much."

The whole ordeal began around 4 p.m., when the dragonflies began to come from over the ocean, and only lasted around five minutes, @themightymover told The Washington Post.

Multiple commenters noted that dragonflies symbolize good luck and transformation. One wrote that "they are giving us a message" and another added that "something good is coming."

According to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, North American dragonfly migrations occur annually in late summer and early fall, when millions of dragonflies of as many as 18 species move from Canada and the northern United States down to the Gulf Coast, Mexico, the West Indies, and beyond.

While dragonflies belong to the scientific order Odonata, which translates to the "toothed one" in Greek, dragonflies don't bite people when they happen to brush against or land on them, according to WebMD.

A dragonfly's serrated jaws exist to clamp down on prey like mosquitoes, gnats, cicadas, flies, though they might pinch people who pick them up, the website added. They also have spines on their bodies that may attach to a person's flesh if they hold them in their hands or fingers.

Either way, dragonflies do not pose any real danger to humans.