Dragonflies: Beneficial Garden Insects
Introduction
Dragonflies are fascinating and beneficial insects that can help keep your garden free of pests. They are often found near water sources, such as ponds and fountains, and are attracted to boggy, wet areas. Dragonflies are harmless to humans and do not sting or bite.
Benefits of Dragonflies in the Garden
Dragonflies are voracious predators and can consume their own body weight in insects each day. This makes them a valuable asset to gardeners, as they can help to control populations of pests such as mosquitoes, flies, and gnats. Dragonflies are also very efficient hunters, and their large, compound eyes allow them to catch prey in mid-air with ease.
Attracting Dragonflies to Your Garden
There are several things you can do to attract dragonflies to your garden:
- Create a pond: Dragonflies need a place to lay their eggs and rear their young. A pond that is at least 20 feet in diameter and 2 feet deep, with shallow, sloping sides, is ideal.
- Plant dragonfly-attracting plants: Dragonflies are attracted to a variety of plants, including submerged vegetation, floating plants, emergent plants, and shoreline plants. Some good choices include dwarf sagittaria, water lilies, fanworts, water horsetail, arrowhead, and cattail.
- Provide perches: Dragonflies need a place to land and rest. You can provide perches by installing stakes or rocks around your garden.
- Avoid using pesticides: Pesticides can harm dragonflies and other beneficial insects. If you must use pesticides, choose products that are specifically labeled for use around water.
Types of Dragonfly Plants
- Submerged vegetation: These plants grow underwater and provide a place for dragonfly nymphs to rest and seek food.
- Floating plants: These plants are not rooted under the water and provide a place for dragonflies to lay their eggs.
- Emergent plants: These plants are rooted on the bottom of ponds but have stems and leaves that rise out of the water. Dragonflies use these plants during both nymph and adult stages.
- Shoreline plants: These plants thrive in moist soil and provide adult dragonflies with a place to hide and hunt.
Dragonfly Life Cycle
Dragonflies go through a four-stage life cycle: egg, nymph, adult, and death.
- Egg: Dragonflies lay their eggs in water. The eggs hatch into nymphs after about three weeks.
- Nymph: Nymphs live in the water for most of their lives. They feed on aquatic insects and grow larger.
- Adult: After several months, nymphs transform into adults. Adults have wings and can fly.
- Death: Adult dragonflies live for only a few weeks. They mate and lay eggs before they die.
Dragonflies and Air Pollution
Dragonflies are sensitive to air pollution. If you have a large number of dragonflies in your garden, it may be a sign that your air quality is good.
Conclusion
Dragonflies are fascinating and beneficial insects that can help to improve your garden. By providing them with a habitat and food sources, you can attract these helpful creatures to your garden and enjoy their beauty and pest-control benefits.