Benefits of Dragonflies

Dragonflies as Indicator Species

"Dragonflies are an excellent bio-indicator (“bio” meaning living indicator) of water health. Their entire lifespan is intricately tied to the water which means they need high water quality to survive to adulthood. They are susceptible to high levels of pollution, such as physical garbage, chemicals and fertilizer runoff, and sediment erosion which can cover and suffocate eggs and nymphs.

Throughout their life cycle, dragonflies are also food for many predators like frogs and birds. This means any toxins in their body will bio-accumulate in animals found higher up on the food chain. While a single dragonfly may not have enough toxins present in its body to kill it, a higher up predator like a frog or swallow may accumulate enough toxins from all of its diet of dragonflies and other insects, resulting in mortality. This bodes even worse for top predators like hawks and falcons that eat animals like frogs or swallows." - Watersheds: Dragonflies as a Bio-Indicator of Water Health 

Pest Control

Dragonflies are like the hawks and eagles of the insect world. They will help keep down mosquito and other insect populations, so make sure to avoid using insecticides, and provide plenty of open spaces with perches such as twigs or clothing lines for your colourful dragonfly neighbors to survey the scene from.

If you still have pest problems even with dragonflies around, check out the Non-Lethal Pest Control page to see what you can do to combat them without hurting your local predators.

Where in the World do Dragonflies Live? with Entomologist Jessica Ware

Arctic Circle

The Northern Arctic Circle has dragonflies.

How To Attract DRAGONFLIES For A MOSQUITO FREE Yard And Garden!

Organizations