. . . the Saffron-winged Meadowhawk doth also abound.

I was cutting grass this afternoon and as I cut around the shrubs, I disturbed large numbers of beautiful medium-sized dragonflies with translucent saffron-coloured wings.  The Saffron-winged Meadowhawks are back!

We are in the third year of extraordinarily wet weather.  There is much water lying in ditches, fields and pastures, ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.  But these are also ideal breeding conditions for the Saffron-winged Meadowhawk.

We rejoice to see the meadowhawks, not only for their beauty, but also for their dietary preferences.  The larvae feed on mosquito larvae, mayfly larvae, other aquatic fly larvae and a wide variety of aquatic insects.  The dragonfly will eat almost any soft-bodied flying insect including mosquitoes, flies, small moths, mayflies, and flying ants or termites.

Surely this is part of the providence of God.  About the time the mosquitoes become almost intolerable, the Saffron-winged Meadowhawk appears to bring relief.  I love to see these beautiful insects skimming across the lawn in the evening, devouring the mosquitoes that seek refuge there.

There is an electric bug zapper sitting unused in our garage.  It will remain there.  I am sure the meadowhawks remove far more mosquitoes and other little beasties from our yard than a man-made device could do.