[Dominic]

Not really sure if this is the best place to ask, but only place I can think of.

My house is quite near a reservoir, and for the past few years we hve been overwhelmed with dragonfly/mayfly, I think, they have 4 wings and a long body bit, kind of like 4 spheres squashed together in a line.

Anyway, mad ranting aside, is there anything that will eat the little *?
Spiders seem to keep the numbers under control inside, a spider web in a corner is much much preferable to a horde of these things.
But outside, they just run riot.

Is there anything, another insect, a small bird ect that eats the adult versions of these?
And if not, is their anything that eats the eggs.

And finaly, is there any way to attract any of these things?

[Dominic]

So far I've got, stock the reservoir with trout

[poultrygeist]

They're not craneflies are they Dominic ?

I couldn't imagine a better sight than a load of colourful drangonflies (but then I'm not overrun with them  :shock: ).

I think birds are about the only thing that would deal with them and I doubt you want them flapping round your house. As far as I know, they don't actually do any harm and I would have thought they'd brighten the place up.

What sort of quantities are we talking ?

Rob

[poultrygeist]

Your description certainly matches the mayfly photo on wikipedia.

Doesn't look hopeful for you but if it is the mayfly at least they only live for a day, albeit the entire generation taking to the air at once !

I don't have a problem with flyign insects and would love to witness it but I realise not everyone feels the same. Don't know what to advise other than keeping your windows and doors shut and take a week away !

Rob

[Aunt Sally]

May fly's and dragon flies are wonderful.  I'd certainly not want to get rid of them  :!:

[poultrygeist]

There's a drainage dyke next to wood not far away that we walked through last summer and it was absolutely crowded with dragonflies.

All sizes and colours milling about above our heads.

Wonderful.

Rob

[Dominic]

I left a window open and a light on last year in my bedroom last year

When I came back, there was 1 per square inch on the wall.

We arent talking, a few pretty little insect here, were talking several hundred smarming everywhere all summer.
And because the * die and hatch every few days anyway, blasting them with a hose pipe sprinkler gets rid of them for several hours, rather than several weeks like with most ohers.

Nope, not crane flys.

[poultrygeist]

Sounds like some photos needed.

Your description certainly sounds like a mayfly. But it should only be for a very limited time.

Can you remember what time of year this was ? If Mayflies, then they traditionally emerge when the hawthorn (May) flowers.

I sympathise with you.

Rob

[poultrygeist]

Are your lodgers like this...??

photo of mayfly

Photo borrowed from wikipedia.

Rob