Dragon Flies

[nkhd1]

Walked out just before dark last night and the hive was going crazy. Bees all over. Didn't think they would swarm that late but started looking for a gathering point. Started noticing a lot of dragon flies. Looking closer the dragon flies were chasing bees. When it looked like they got one they would disappear into the trees.

Anyone else seen this? I knew dragon flies were predators of skeeters and flies had not heard of them attacking bees.:scratch:

[AR Beekeeper]

Yes, I have a yard that has many dragon flies around it. They are tough on drones and virgin queens.

[Robert Brenchley]

I've only looked at the UK species, but over here, the large dragonflies will take the odd bee. They're solitary though, and wouldn't take significant numbers. Smaller dragonflies aren't strong enough fliers to be able to catch them effectively. This one has come up so many times, and it sounds as though some of your dragonflies are probably less territorial then ours, if they gather in sufficient numbers to be a nuisance to hives.

[Ravenseye]

It's dragonfly season. They're hunting all over my property. Cool to watch. I've never seen them take a bee but I wouldn't bet against it.

[Hambone]

Hey nkhd1,

What you were probably seeing were oriantation flights and not swarming.

Dragonflies will get some of them but not enough to do any damage.

[nkhd1]

Thanks for the info.
Just wanted to make sure of what I was thinking I was seeing.

[BeeAware]

Darn dragon flies will at times kill so many virgin queens on their mating flights that it is not worth trying to rear queens! They only eat the head and thorax and you can sometimes see the remaining parts of bees dropping to the ground. Some species of dragon flies are worse than others.

[Swobee]

Our first hives years ago were located near a farm pond. The dragon flies would hover near the hives at evening return time and made me think of little military helicopters hovering waiting for their attack. The larger ones will take an errant bee on occasion.

[Loonerone]

we have a whole herd of dragon flies that swarm around the hives - high up- at dusk. I figure one bee should be enough for a dragonfly a day....we could use fewer drones, but hate to see them captured and gobbled up...

[devdog108]

you prolly lose more to cars and fighting amongst hives.... Theywere allover mine, and they just eventually went away