Wasn't sure if I could ask about damselflies in this forum. If not, please direct me to a more appropriate forum.
I've noticed a large damselfly population in my NW IN garden in the past week - more than I've ever seen before. The dragonflies are just starting to show up so it's hard to say what their population will be. Anyway, what would cause these large numbers? I do live near a wooded wetlands (beyond my backyard) but have for 25 years. Is this a strictly an environmental thing? Not gardening any differently - no pesticides, no herbicides except for DH's spot treatment of dandelions but have been mulching with leaves for the past year.

Cindy, I know we're hundreds of miles apart, but I have noticed an increase in damselflies this year in Florida. The wetlands where I like to hike had so many; I thought they were stalking me! And even yesterday I saw one in my yard and I can't recall the last time I've had one here. Dragonfly numbers are up quite a bit, too. Maybe something environmental? We did have a milder, wetter winter but I don't know how that affects these insects.

I think it's the abnormally wet season we've had. We had an extremely mild winter and a wetter than average spring. I have huge amounts of damsels this year, too. The other insect populations here are larger than normal, as well. I have an increase of grasshopper babies, lady beetles, mosquitoes and hoverflies, too. Haven't seen any dragonflies yet but I'm sure they're coming.

Hmm - we didn't have a mild winter and had less rain in the spring than normal. The wetlands have stayed wetter for whatever reason - maybe not draining as well as they should. I didn't know if the increase in numbers was due entirely to water levels or if there's a more cyclical reason, similar to cicadas up here.