Dragonflies invade Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Dragonflies are proliferating all over Chicago and it's a good thing they're here.

The quadruple-winged flying insects congregate around water and fly south from Wisconsin into Illinois around August and September. Then the dragonflies migrate further south to the Gulf Coast.

They are considered the perfectly evolved insect according to Dr. Doug Taron, chief curator at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

"They have been around for about 300 million years. They're been found in very, very old fossils. Some of the fossilized dragonflies are enormous. They can have two, two-and-a-half feet wingspans," said Taron.

Plus, dragonflies have almost 360 degree vision, which helps protect them from predators such as birds.

A warm, humid summer day is the ideal breeding ground for mosquitos, but thanks to dragonflies, mosquitos are kept under control.

"A single dragonfly can consume several hundred mosquitos in a day," said Taron.