Attracting Dragons and Damsels to Backyard Ponds

Dancing, darting, perching, and feeding! They are mesmerizing. They are the unique, aerial acrobats around ponds and streams. These insect marvels have been around for millions of years, are important components of aquatic ecosystems, and are indicators of good water quality. Who are they?

Dragonflies and damselflies! They belong to the insect order Odonata. There are 6,500 species of odonates worldwide with more being discovered. North America is home to over 400 species. They are found on every continent except Antarctica and are found almost anywhere there is fresh water, in lakes, ponds, wetlands, streams, rivers, vernal pools, and bogs. Most species prefer still water, but some are adapted to living among the cobble in faster-moving streams. They look similar in many ways, yet there are differences. Dragonflies have short, stout bodies. At rest, they hold their wings flat and spread out. Damselflies are thin and slender. At rest, they hold their wings upright, together like a sail.

Both begin their life in the water and go through incomplete metamorphosis, bypassing the resting pupal stage. Adults lay eggs in water, plant tissue, rotting logs, or other material. Nymphs hatch in just a few days. This is the lengthiest life stage, lasting a few months to years depending on the species. Nymphs live concealed below the water’s surface in the mud and around vegetation. They are voracious predators. Young nymphs feed primarily on zooplankton. Larger nymphs often lie in wait and ambush anything they can catch including tadpoles, insects, snails, small fish, and even other odonates. They have a spoon-shaped, hinged lower jaw that shoots out at lightning speed to catch prey. It’s impressive! No critter of the same or smaller size is safe from its hunt.

Nymphs hatch and molt several times before emerging as adults. The emergence is magical and happens in less than an hour. A nymph crawls out of the water and perches vertically on vegetation or nearby structures. Its exoskeleton splits open and a winged adult emerges. Within minutes the wings and abdomen expand, and the transformation completes. They may take flight thirty minutes after emerging and are tender and delicate for 24-48 hours, making them very vulnerable prey to fish, frogs, spiders, and birds. These juveniles fly to meadows or woodlands, remaining in the safer environment for 1-2 weeks. They will find their way back to freshwater where they will live out their remaining days. They have unique flight ability and excellent color vision; the best of the insect world, making them the perfect hunting machine. Odonates are a natural pest control, eating whatever flying insects are plentiful – flies, midges, beetles, mosquitos, and more. They consume hundreds of insects daily, including pests.

If you find dragonflies and damselflies captivating, you may be interested in attracting them to your backyard. A backyard pond would be an appropriate habitat for both nymphs and adults. If there is a water source nearby that supports them, they will find their way to your pond. Because Pennsylvania has abundant fresh water, there is probably a waterway close by. Strong fliers and those that breed in small ponds, such as green darners, wandering gliders, common whitetails, and blue dashers, will be the most likely to arrive. To attract them, plant a diversity of submerged, emergent, and floating native plants in and around your pond. Plants provide protection, shade, oxygen, a place to lay eggs, a place to emerge, perching posts, and food and shelter for prey. Be sure there is plenty of sun for basking, and consider planting evergreens and shrubs nearby to break prevailing winds. Deciduous trees close to your pond may drop too many leaves into it, overloading it with nutrients. Larger ponds with varying water depth and high plant diversity will attract more species. Place flat stones around your pond to provide basking sites, and use sticks in the pond to create perching posts.

The presence, abundance, and diversity of dragonflies and damselflies is indicative of good water quality and healthy ecosystems. Species range from very sensitive to very tolerant of temperature, flow, plant diversity, habitat disturbance, excessive nutrients, and pollution. Damselfly nymphs are moderately tolerant of pollution; dragonfly nymphs are more sensitive, especially species that burrow. A diversity of odonates around any waterway is a good sign! The most important thing we can do to protect these ancient, hunting machines is to protect their habitat. They are both fascinating and ecologically important. Let's continue to protect them!