We are well into the summer thunderstorm season right now in central Florida. Most of our waterways, ponds, lakes, and retention pools are running high, and the dragonflies are very happy. Even though my property is higher than much of Florida (which isn’t saying much!) and there isn’t much standing water here except for my little ponds, the air is just teeming with dragonflies. Interestingly, the vast majority of them are male blue dashers (Pachydiplax longipennis) or female eastern pondhawks. The opposite sexes of both species tend to stay closer to the water, but these dragonflies will venture out away from the water in search of food. When they are ready to breed, they return to the more watery areas. The wet weather also has mosquitos and flies hatching out like mad, so having some dragonflies around to keep their populations under control is a godsend. Not only are the dragonflies beautiful to look at and enjoyable to watch, but they are highly useful, too. No one would want to go outside in a world where mosquito and fly populations were unchecked.