Termite Terminator

Yesterday's rain created a nice environment for termite eggs to hatch.

This morning, we wondered at first what were all the little bugs flying in swarms in the sunshine.

Once I stepped outside I recognized the termites.

Not only were they flying, but crawling on the ground.

We hoped that the neighborhood crows, mockingbirds, towhees, jays and sparrows would gobble up the little beasties.

The dragonflies and damselflies in our garden didn't immediately come to mind.

In the afternoon, however, I observed a large dragonfly zipping quickly around the back field, and gobbling up the termites. Somehow that was a very satisfying sight.

Since the dragonfly I observed was quite large, I believe it was one of these, a Green Darner.

In the photo here, taken a week ago, it was resting on a dried cornflower blossom in the field.