Dragonfly
Fast, agile aerial predators with near-perfect hunting efficiency. Both adults and aquatic larvae are voracious predators - adults catch flying insects on the wing, larvae hunt underwater.
Why you want them
Dragonflies are extraordinarily effective hunters - studies show a hunting success rate of around 95%, higher than almost any other predator on earth. Adults catch midges, gnats, small flies, and even mosquitoes in mid-air. Their aquatic larvae (nymphs) live for one to four years in garden ponds and prey on mosquito larvae, water fleas, and small invertebrates. A garden pond, even a small one, can support resident dragonfly populations.
Helps control
How to attract them
- Garden pond with shallow margins
- Emergent aquatic plants (reeds, iris)
- Sunny open water
- Perches near water
Preferred habitat
Near water - ponds, streams, ditches, and boggy areas. Adults perch on prominent stems and fence posts near water. They need open sunny water for breeding and emergent vegetation for larvae to climb before their final moult.
What harms them
Loss of garden ponds, water pollution, chemical run-off into water, removal of pond-edge vegetation, and intensive land drainage.
Garden, by Willowbottom works with nature, not against it. Support your garden allies and they will do most of the hard work for you.