July 29th 2024.
On a beautiful summer day at Misquamicut State Beach in Rhode Island, beachgoers were suddenly taken aback by a surprising invasion. The skies were filled with countless dragonflies, creating a scene that could only be described as a biblical plague. Stephanie Martin, one of the sunbathers at the beach, shared her experience with WCVB, saying, "I was enjoying a nice day at Misquamicut State Beach until we endured a dragonfly apocalypse."
Videos captured by at least two beachgoers showed the overwhelming presence of the dragonflies as they dominated the skies and hovered over the shoreline. The sight was enough to cause many to scream and run in fear. One woman, recording the strange phenomenon, could be heard saying, "God, this is... I have never seen anything like this in my life. I mean, this is insane. Oh my god, it is unbelievable... It is... oh my god. Oh my god, this is..."
As the crowd reacted in various ways to the unexpected swarm, some tried to protect themselves by using body boards while others calmly sat on their beach towels, perhaps waiting for the swarm to pass. Richard Sontag, one of the witnesses who recorded a video, described it as a straight out "invasion". Meanwhile, another witness, 63-year-old Mark Stickney, was amazed by the sheer number of dragonflies, saying, "One of those spectacles of nature that you very rarely get to see, so I was all happy."
Despite the initial shock and fear, it's important to note that dragonflies are harmless to humans. They travel in large groups and feed on smaller insects, including mosquitoes. In fact, dragonflies play an important role in controlling pest populations. As Christine Goforth, the head of citizen science at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, explained in an interview with WBUR, "You can get anywhere from a dozen to millions or even billions of dragonflies flying together in these big groups." She also mentioned that dragonfly swarms typically occur during their migration southward in the fall, but in recent years, they have been congregating earlier in the year.
For some, the dragonfly invasion may have been a scary and unsettling experience, but for others like Mark Stickney, it was a rare and fascinating sight. As Stickney put it, "One of those spectacles of nature that you very rarely get to see, so I was all happy." In the end, the dragonflies eventually dispersed, leaving behind an interesting story for beachgoers to share. Misquamicut State Beach, located about 40 miles west of Newport along the coast, will continue to be a popular destination for those seeking a peaceful day at the beach. Follow us to receive the latest news updates from Metro and join our community on Whatsapp for breaking news and juicy stories.
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