• About
    • The Maldives
    • Conservation
    • Employment
  • Diving
    • Diving in Baa Atoll
    • Diving in Raa Atoll
    • Hanifaru Bay
    • Dive Courses
    • Safety
  • Kihaa Maldives
    • Location
    • Scuba Diving
      • Diving in Baa
      • Diving Activities
        • House Reef
        • Excursions
      • Dive Sites
      • PADI Diving Courses
        • Try Diving
        • Become Certified
        • PADI eLearning
        • Advanced Open Water
        • Speciality Courses
        • Rescue Diver Course
      • Diving Price List
    • Snorkelling
      • Excursions
      • Hanifaru Bay
      • Snorkelling Price List
    • The Team
    • Resort
    • Hanifaru Bay
    • Accommodation
    • Restaurants
    • Wellness
  • Brennia Kottefaru
    • Location
    • Scuba Diving
      • Diving in Raa
      • Diving Activities
      • Dive Sites
      • PADI Diving Courses
        • Try Diving
        • Become certified
        • PADI eLearning
        • Advanced Open Water
        • Speciality Courses
        • Rescue Diver Course
      • Diving Price List
    • The Team
    • Resort
    • Accommodation
  • Gallery
  • Latest
  • Contact
Menu back  

Dragonflies

on the move

The return of the dragonflies

dragonflies

Every year the islands of the Maldives get a massive influx of dragonflies around November/December. It normally coincides with the changing of the monsoon from south west winds to the north east winds. We did a little research and here are some fun facts about these interesting insects:

Where do they go

There have been a few studies on this particular migration, as it is believed that the dragonflies start their journey in India, head down to the Maldives, across to Africa and then back to India.

The rains

It is suggested that they are following the rains as the dragonflies lay their larvae in temporary rain puddles, which contain fresh water and often mosquito larvae, a perfect food source for them.

Longest migration

If this migration is proven to take place, then it would be the longest migration by any insect with a round trip being 14,000-18,000km long and would take 3-4 generations to complete.

The studies strongly suggest that the dragonflies use the wind patterns, along with flying at varying altitudes (up to 1000 m) to reach each destination, arriving just in time for the seasonal rains.

The dragonflies are believed to eat other smaller insects along their travels, whereas they themselves are being a likely food source for migratory birds also taking advantage of the winds. The dragonflies aren’t here for long, but they come in millions making them very hard to miss!

SHARE THIS POST:Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedintumblrmail
December 29, 2019
Coral Reefs of the Maldives
Microplastics
Latest News
  • Living on a tiny island in the Maldives
    Living on a tiny island in the Maldives
    March 25, 2023
  • Shoal or School - Ocean Dimensions
    Shoal or School
    February 26, 2023
  • Diving at 80 with Ocean Dimensions
    Diving at 80
    February 11, 2023
  • Jetty and lagoon finds - Ocean Dimensions
    Recent Jetty and Lagoon finds
    January 26, 2023
Follow us on Social Media
FacebookTwitterInstagramGoogle+Rss
© 2023 Ocean Dimensions. All rights reserved.

Designed and powered by thedconcept

Footer Social