Attracting Dragonflies for Mosquito Control

Dragonflies not only come in an array of colors and are very beautiful to watch, but they can also be an efficient preventative measure against mosquitoes: dragonflies eat mosquitoes in every life stage.

Both the mosquito’s and the dragonfly’s life cycles require still water, like a backyard pond. Dragonflies are attracted to emergent plants in ponds and lay their eggs on the root of the plants. The most common emergent unrooted plants are water lilies and water horsetail. Dragonflies can live within a pond, ranging from shallow water to the deepest end of 2 feet, for months and even years before adulthood. It’s here, in the pond, that nymph dragonflies eat mosquito larvae. Because, just like dragonflies, mosquitoes need still water to breed and hatch. Cross your fingers that your new dragonfly friends outnumber the mosquitoes.

Ways to Attract Dragonflies (Without a Pond)

If you’re into DIY projects, there are pre-molded ponds you can purchase and turn into a landscaping feature. If you’re not handy, putting water in a wooden barrel could work. In either case, you’ll just need to plant floating and submerged plants to make your pool of water habitable for dragonflies. Water lilies, eelgrass, fanwort, and wild celery are all popular options.

If you don’t have or want a pond, dragonflies are also drawn to Black-eyed susans and Swamp milkweed, which you can plant around your yard.

Once dragonflies become adults, with their flight speed of 30 mph to the mosquitoes’ 1.5 mph flight speed, mosquitoes do not have a chance of survival in their presence. We love it when Mother Nature aids in controlling mosquitoes in your yard.

But if the dragonflies aren’t getting the job done and mosquitoes are keeping you from enjoying your outdoor habitat, Mosquito Squad offers naturalprotection to treat your yard and create a barrier that lasts for 14 days. Call us today for a free estimate.