Dragonflies are among the oldest species of insects still present on earth, and you will see them flying by garden ponds, fountains, or even in natural waterways.
They are beautiful to watch when they’re flying to and fro on their daily journeys, which could have something to do with their near endless appetite.
Aside from their elegant beauty, dragonflies also lend a helping hand in the garden as they are excellent at controlling populations of other flying insects like mosquitoes and flies. An adult dragonfly can consume anywhere from 30-100 mosquitoes a day, and around, 16,000 insects over the summer.
What are the Benefits of Dragonfly for Your Garden? (Pros)
- Dragonflies pose no threat to humans, and we have welcomed them into our gardens for centuries. They are highly capable hunters of flies and mosquitoes; their agile and powerful wings and excellent vision allow them to quickly catch small flying prey.
- Additionally, dragonflies are an amazing indicator that you have high quality air because they cannot survive in polluted air; they tend to be a lot rarer in busy city, urban environments. Therefore, if you have a ton of dragonflies inhabiting your garden, it likely suggests that you have the best quality air you can breathe.
- Dragonflies with their extremely carnivorous appetites are also a effective way to thin spider populations. Dragonflies easily catch small spiders by speed and skill, and their wings can typically slice through spiderwebs as they speed by.
What is not good about Dragonflies for your Garden? (Cons)
Honestly, there are not many reasons to be dissatisfied about dragonflies being in your garden.
They are harmless to humans and offer a wealth of benefits, as stated.
- Unfortunately, dragonflies are not beneficial to pollination. They do not intentionally get nectar off of flowers; however, they may chase or hunt insects that are near flowers, such as small flies or moths.
- Dragonflies are carnivorous, and just have a huge appetite, eating many thousands of smaller insects a week. In this way, they are obviously a predator to ants, smaller moths and flies, and other smaller bugs that you may like.
Dragonfly Life Cycle
Dragonflies begin their lives as larvae in a pond/stream/etc. The female dragonfly lays eggs in damp areas or the mud. A few weeks later, the eggs hatch into baby dragonflies called ‘Nymphs’.
The nymph stage lasts approximately 1-2 years depending on the species of dragonfly, and eats just about anything:
- Bacteria in the pond
- Algae
- Insect larvae
- Tiny fish
- Mosquitoes
- Tadpoles
This helps many waterways to control pest insects such as mosquitoes and flies. At the end of the nymph stage, the dragonfly has developed an outer shell (exoskeleton) and crawls out of the water, the exoskeleton cracks open and the four wings come out, the wings then dry for approximately a few hours until they are read to first fly!
The adult life phase on average is between 2 weeks to 1 year depending on the species. The most common dragonfly species in the U.S. is the Libellulidae family that contains over 100 species.
These common dragonflies are often called ‘Skimmers and are very brightly colored dragonflies that are found darting around ponds, rivers, or lakes throughout the United States.
Less known Fact: Most dragonfly species are about 1 generation per year.
How to Attract Dragonflies
Attracting dragonflies to your garden is fairly simple as there are over 5,000 different species that have been identified.
There are a few methods that are known to work and it is important to create the right environment for dragonflies.
Install a Pond or Marsh Area
Any garden property with a pond that is at least 20 feet across will attract dragonflies, as they will use the ground for food, breeding and the nymph stages of their lifecycle.
If you install a pond, do not add fish, as they will eat dragonflies!
You can also create a small marsh or bog that will also attract dragonflies, this is prime breeding ground for small insects they will eat as an adult.
A marsh-like area is a great opportunity for any garden with poorly drained area.
Provide Large Rocks for Sunbaking
Dragonflies are exothermic, so they will basically use the sun to obtain heat for the day. You will often see dragonflies hover above a pond, or perched on a flat rock, gathering product heat from the sun.
If you lay some large flat rocks at the side of your pond that collect heat throughout the day, you will see dragonflies perched on it sunbaking throughout the summer months.
Install Perches and Stakes
While you will see plenty of dragonflies flying around, they also like tall stakes and posts where they can sit and wait for insects to fly by.
Tip: Consider getting a bunch of stakes that are about three feet high and placing them around your garden to help attract dragonflies to your garden.
Good Air Quality
Dragonflies prefer good air quality which is low on pollution, so you may find it difficult to attract a colony of dragonflies to your garden if you live in a busy or dense urban area.
If you live rural, you should have no problems with the methods above, and don’t forget to make sure you have plenty of foliage, shrubs and trees for dragonflies to perch and hunt from in a grove fashion.
Avoid Bug Zappers or Insecticides
As dragonflies are natural mosquito and fly hunters, avoid bug zappers and insecticides in your garden, as these will deter any dragonfly colonies going forward impacted by chemical fumes.
Plants that Attract Dragonflies
Dragonflies are not picky when it comes to plants but there are some obvious favorites that are easy to grow that will attract dragonfly attention.
Most of these plants will also provide beautiful flowers and colors to your garden in spring and summer.
Dwarf Sagittaria
If you live in USDA zone 6-10, submerged plants like Dwarf Sagittaria grow well and provide the perfect breeding ground and shelter for the dragonfly population.
Swamp Milkweed
Another great plant for wet or moist conditions is Swamp Milkweed.
Don’t be fooled by the name, these plants grow beautiful white and pink flowers (great for butterflies, bees, and dragonflies!).
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susan is a beautiful flowering plant that attracts other insects like bees and butterflies, in addition to dragonflies.
What’s more, these plants are easy to grow in almost any type of soil and will add color to your garden in spring and summer.
Meadow Sage
If you are looking for a hardy plant that can withstand the hot summer temperatures, consider planting Meadow Sage.
This perennial flowering plant produces vibrant purple flowers from lush green foliage, while requiring very little watering.
Butterflies and dragonflies love them too!
Water Lily
No pond should be without water lilies!
They are beautiful flowering plants that grow under the water with large, floatable leaves that serve as an excellent pontoon for your dragonfly colonies!
Water lilies will provide excellent cover for dragonflies who want to take a nap or hang out for the day, the colorful white or pink flowers will attract bees and butterflies as well!
Lotus Flower
Another fantastic addition to your pond is Lotus Flowers, or the Indian flower.
They provide striking pink flowers that will grow and gradually float on top of the surface of the water and grow off a root system that is submerged.
Lotus flowers are fast growing, and they are good for attracting a plethora of other useful insects and critters like butterflies, bees, and dragonflies.
Conclusion
Dragonflies add elegance, grace and beauty to your garden; they are also beneficial in so many ways; they control pest insects like mosquitoes and flies and even keep other nasties like spiders and moths at bay.
As you now know, it is hard to find any downside for including dragonflies as part of your garden.
Attracting dragonflies to your garden doesn’t require a large effort beyond these a few selected plants and a decent size pond, and if you follow some of the tips outlined above, you will have buzzing and swooping dragonfly colonies all over your garden before you know it!