Massive dragonfly swarms delight some beachgoers, terrify others
The Peninsula
Beachgoers in Rhode Island expecting fun in the sun on Saturday got more than they bargained for when millions of dragonflies swarmed in from the ocea...
Beachgoers in Rhode Island expecting fun in the sun on Saturday got more than they bargained for when millions of dragonflies swarmed in from the ocean in a sight some called spectacular and others called apocalyptic.
In numerous video clips shared on social media, hordes of dragonflies briefly invaded beaches across the state. At Misquamicut State Beach, video shows people screaming and panicking as they were surrounded by the insects.
But AbbeCiulla, who visits South Shore Beach two to three times a week during the summer months, said people around her were "awestruck” when the dragonflies arrived.
"I’ve never seen anything else like it before. It was really special - like a beautiful shared experience with nature,” Ciulla, 40, told The Washington Post. She recorded and posted a video of the dragonflies, which has received 185,000 views, on her TikTok account.
The yoga studio owner said it appeared as though the dragonflies were coming from the ocean around 4 pm as the wind shifted. Some brushed against her hair, and others rested on beachgoers’ knees or toes briefly. The whole experience lasted about five minutes, she said.