Invertebrates
See our handy guide to critters found in local homes and our Central Coast Butterfly FAQ. Browse the insects and other terrestrial arthropods we’ve identified. Check out local marine invertebrates, particularly bivalve mollusks and intertidal organisms.
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Increased numbers of dragonflies in Santa Barbara
I have noticed over the last 10 days or so a much larger volume of dragonflies in my yard, neighbors yard, and today I saw another "swarm" in Girsch Park. While its not uncommon to see a dragonfly in SB, the larger groupings and increased frequency makes me wonder why there are so many around currently? Could this be connected to our hot summer and El Niño? Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Curator Response
Hi Alicia,
I’ve seen high numbers of dragonflies recently too, especially along the coast! Most of these dragonfly “swarms” consist of Wandering Gliders, also known as Globe Skimmers, Pantala flavescens. These dragonflies are found on every continent except Antarctica, and have the longest migration of any insect, with some populations migrating from southern Africa to India, crossing the Indian Ocean! While their migratory movements in North America seem to be a bit more irregular, it is common to see large swarms of them throughout the U.S. as they migrate. Based on what I could find, their movements seem to be at least somewhat correlated to weather, so the El Niño could certainly be playing a role.”
Sincerely,
Schlinger Chair of Entomology Alex Harman, Ph.D.
