jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 3, 2013 7:59:53 GMT -5
I have heard that a dragonfly eats either 200/day or 200/hour(mosquitos).
I have a ton of standing water in stagnant containers but thousands of dragonflies. Not one mosquito bite in that 5 acre area.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 3, 2013 8:09:46 GMT -5
Dragonflies eat the larvae of insects that live in the water, they eat many times their weight in mosquitoes every day. Adult Dragonflies are born rulers of their domain and they prove it to just about every insect that thinks it can pull a fast one on this killing machine. The adult dragonfly uses the basket formed by its legs to catch insects while flying. The adult dragonfly likes to eat gnats, mayflies, flies, mosquitoes and other small flying insects. They sometimes eat butterflies, moths and bees too. Have you ever heard of a dragonfly going on a diet? No? We haven’t either, because these little critters are carnivorous in their minds, bodies and soul. A fun fact here - A dragonfly can eat food equal to its own weight in about 30 minutes. Which roughly translates into a you trying to eat as much as 100 lb…let alone in half an hour. We don’t eat that amount of food in a week! Read more www.dragonfly-site.com/what-do-dragonflies-eat.html |
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bushmanbilly
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Post by bushmanbilly on Sept 3, 2013 12:36:27 GMT -5
Great pictures. We have what they call the prairie widow up here. Never seen one. Some of our dragonflies are 3 to 4 inches long. Variegated meadow hawk  |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 3, 2013 18:24:14 GMT -5
The infamous " Iron Dragon Fly " (The whole bloody 17 minutes!)  Eating an iron elephant  |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 3, 2013 20:51:45 GMT -5
This is the one i saw with a squirrel. This is a true to size prehistoric dragon fly.  Edit - I know I wrote something here...? I said that those huge prehistoric dragonflies are large enough to cart off small dogs and children!! |
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ash
spending too much on rocks
Prairieville, Louisiana
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Post by ash on Sept 3, 2013 22:35:49 GMT -5
I have always heard folks groan about the mosquitoes and wanting the Martins (birds not the furry kind) to hurry up and come nest. Seems to me, that the mosquitoes are worse when they leave. I wonder if they eat up the dragonflies that eat up the mosquitoes? Either way though, I still like Purple Martins.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 3, 2013 23:42:02 GMT -5
It's a good theory ash. Martins can probably catch anything. They are fast flyers.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 4, 2013 9:25:12 GMT -5
We have a lot of swallows that come out in the evening, snapping up mosquitos. Although the range maps show the martins are present for at least a while here, I've never seen one in person. I've seen photos of some of the elaborate "condos" people put up to attract them. Seem like great neighbors to have.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 4, 2013 11:41:43 GMT -5
I got swallows here Jean. They are efficient bud eaters like Martins.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 4, 2013 12:19:05 GMT -5
In Cali, they smoke buds! And they call them swallows because they swallow lots of mosquitos!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2013 12:27:06 GMT -5
oh jean......................................
[facepalm]
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 4, 2013 12:30:13 GMT -5
What, what, what? Sorry, just in a good mood this morning, before it becomes like a sauna.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 4, 2013 16:43:09 GMT -5
Scott, ya know, you're the only one that caught it. Is it a Calif thing? (not doing it, obviously, saying it)
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 4, 2013 18:17:04 GMT -5
What did i miss? Please explain to the disadvantaged. I ride the short bus...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2013 18:45:17 GMT -5
What, what, what? Sorry, just in a good mood this morning, before it becomes like a sauna. TMI, I hope Bob is as stress relieved as you seem to be.  |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 4, 2013 20:25:22 GMT -5
Oh, I see the problem... Scott, you thought I was talking about myself? No wonder you said TMI, LOL! Now it all makes sense, "hope Bob is as stress relieved as you seem to be." No, actually, I was just in a good mood this morning (but not that good!). I was talking about the swallows.
I'll never tell.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 4, 2013 21:20:19 GMT -5
I stuck my head up in a private matter. I am ducking back and disappearing
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 5, 2013 9:16:51 GMT -5
No worries, James. Not a private matter. I'll fill you in.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2013 9:59:30 GMT -5
unseemly post remove. Apologies offered.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 5, 2013 10:00:05 GMT -5
Good morning, Scott. Nope, not this morning, either. No time for that, just get him out of bed, and off to work. (And just FYI, it didn't happen yesterday, either. It's too friggin hot. Life and its functions temporarily get put on hold for a time.)
func•tion
/ˈfəNGkSHən/
noun
plural noun: functions
1. an activity or purpose natural to or intended for a person or thing.
synonyms:
purpose, task, use, role
responsibility, duty, role, concern, province. activity, assignment
Oh, you meant the swallows flying around outside? Don't usually see them in the morning, more often in the late afternoon/evening when the bugs are flying about.
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