Why Should You Attract Dragonflies to Your Yard?
In order to encourage other insects and birds to visit their yard, many homeowners want to make their yard as pleasant as possible. With its huge eyes and two pairs of extraordinarily powerful wings, the dragonfly is one of the most well-known insects on the planet.
The dragonfly’s elongated body is perhaps its most distinguishing characteristic. Many people confuse dragonflies with damselflies, which have a similar structure to dragonflies, however the latter is far smaller and lighter in comparison.
A common sighting in forested areas and gardens is the presence of dragonflies, which are attracted to these environments because they like eating other flying insects. In addition to mosquitoes and midges, they may also prey on butterflies, other smaller dragonflies, and even moths in certain situations, depending on their size.
The desire to try to make your yard a more attractive habitat for dragonflies is motivated by a variety of factors. The architectural structure of these creatures makes them particularly well suited for capturing other flying insects. Additionally, they have a webbed arrangement of legs, which is a bonus.
Dragonflies in the yard provide a number of advantages.
The desire to attract dragonflies to your yard might be motivated by a variety of different factors. Some of the most significant advantages you may get from attracting dragonflies to your yard are the following.
Why Should You Attract Dragonflies to Your Yard?
Spiders and mosquitoes are among the foods that you may eat.
As previously stated, many adult dragonflies are known to prey on other flying insects, such as mosquitoes, and even spiders. In addition, they prey on smaller dragonflies and butterflies.
Moths, as well as tiny invertebrates such as small fish, bloodworms, and aquatic larvae, are easy prey for these predators. This leads to the conclusion that dragonflies prey on mosquitoes, which are known to transmit malaria to humans.
Predators of Insects are kept in check.
Consider the environment in your yard. You’ll notice that there is a delicate balance between the amount of pests and the number of insects in your yard. Dragonflies have the ability to reduce pest infestations by stinging them.
For those of you who like gardening, you won’t have to be concerned about employing harsh chemicals to manage the infestation in your garden.
Appeal on a purely aesthetic level
Looking at these insects from a distance, you will see that they have an exceptional visual attraction about them that you will find difficult to resist. Because of their shiny hue on their body and their distinct look, which is accentuated by their elongated body, they are indeed a sight to see.
They may lend a touch of beauty to other bodies of water, such as ponds and streams, as well. They’ll also take care of any flies that may be bothering you.
Advantages in terms of the environment
Dragonflies are very vital in maintaining the ecosystem of any water body on your property, and they may be found in plenty. They like to dwell near sources of fresh water, and they don’t have a bite or a thread to entangle themselves.
To various ecologically sensitive places, they provide a diverse range of benefits.
Increasing the Number of Mosquitoes
Augmentation is the procedure by which a predator is introduced into an area in order to regulate the population of a certain species. Most of the time, they are released into the surroundings in order to reduce the mosquito population in the home.
If you are looking for the most effective alternative, biological pest management is typically recommended. It is a terrific option for individuals who want to ensure that they do not have to worry about mosquitoes or malaria in their home.
Now that you are aware of the advantages, there are a variety of strategies that you may use to attract dragonflies to your yard. You may utilize a variety of strategies to attract dragonflies to your yard, as listed below.
The Best Way to Attract Dragonflies to Your Backyard
Number one, include a water feature in your landscape design.
The addition of a water element to your yard is one of the most effective means of attracting dragonflies. Dragonflies are aquatic insects, and they deposit their eggs in water where they are able to stay cool.
They prefer to spend the most of their time perched on plants in the surrounding environment. Dragonflies have a preference for either standing or flowing water, with some preferring the former.
The addition of a water pond to your yard is an excellent idea if you are planning some yard renovations and want to include a new element. You may even include a tiny waterfall into the pond to make it even more romantic and attractive.
It looks fantastic and will provide a sense of elegance to your outside space, as seen in the picture. It will also attract these aquatic insects, on top of everything else.
However, it is critical to remember that the water body must be at least two feet deep in order for this to be successful. As a result, you will only be able to attract mosquitoes rather than dragonflies or damselflies.
2) Plant a few plants of your choice.
Incorporating a little amount of vegetation in or around the water is an excellent approach to give even more protection to the dragonfly. It is common for them to need a variety of various kinds of flora to safeguard their eggs and nymphs.
For the most part, emergent vegetation is a good idea since it offers some kind of protective coverage. Additionally, the nymphs may exit via these floating plants.
A perch for dragonflies to rest and deposit their eggs is frequently provided by these floating plants. The dragonflies may then settle on nearby trees and bushes, which give a safe haven.
3.Pollinator plants should be included in the design.
Once you’ve established a water source, you should be aware that the dragonflies will be able to maintain a fairly consistent food supply. A large number of mosquitoes will be present around the water feature, resulting in a large amount of food being accessible for the dragonflies to feed on.
While doing so, it is also attracting other insects that will consume the mosquitoes that have been attracted to the area. The fact that pollinator plants may benefit your garden is one of the primary reasons why you should think about include them in your garden. Irises, buttercups, and lilies are excellent pollinator plants to include in your landscape.
Your yard will become even more attractive to damselflies and dragonflies as a result of this. These plants provide as an additional source of attraction for these insects, making it an excellent option in this case.
What you should do is surround the plant with some plants that give a high perch, which is the most effective solution. Dragonflies like to rest on high-growing plants and are fiercely protective of their territory.
Water features in gardens need regular care, something you should be aware of if you have one in your backyard. You should also avoid messing with the water feature if the dragonflies have set their eggs in or around it after they have done so.
As a result of your desire to keep them alive, there is a significant possibility that you may end up inflicting harm to its eggs or even killing them. When you see a big number of dragonflies buzzing over your water feature, you need to exercise extreme caution and precaution.
However, one of the most significant benefits of attracting dragonflies to your garden is that they are completely harmless to people. These insects do not possess any biting or stinging characteristics.
In addition, it is important to remember that if you want a healthy dragonfly population, you should avoid bringing fish, ducks, or even frogs into your water feature.
If you want to attract dragonflies to your yard, you need be aware of the following points: You should avoid becoming impatient since it will take some time for the dragonflies to locate your water feature and then decide to make your water feature their permanent home.