Summer is here—time for sun, BBQs, and unfortunately, mosquitoes. Those tiny bloodsuckers have a knack for ruining a perfect dinner outside. Sure, you can use bug spray, but who wants to soak in chemicals while enjoying a delicious burger?
Enter dragonflies: these shimmering, acrobatic insects aren’t just pretty—they’re mosquito-eating machines.
Dragonflies have been honing their flying skills since before dinosaurs. An adult dragonfly can chow down on about 100 mosquitoes a day, and swarms of them can eat thousands! They also snack on other flying pests like gnats, flies, and black flies. Now you just need to figure out how to recruit these mosquito-munching experts for summer duty in your yard.
If you want to see brightly colored creatures zooming, hovering, and darting across your landscape, providing an inviting dragonfly habitat in your backyard is key. Here are 4 surefire tips to attract dragonflies and damselflies for a mosquito-free yard and garden.
1. Create Dragonfly Perches
The first step to attracting dragonflies is to provide them with perches. Dragonflies need places to rest and hunt from, and the right perches can make your yard irresistible to them. Here are two effective options:
- Bamboo stakes
- Stainless steel cables
Bamboo stakes are perfect for dragonflies to perch on. They are easy to find and affordable. You can get them at Home Depot or order them online. Place the stakes around your yard, and you’ll soon see dragonflies using them as hunting perches in the evening.
Another great option is to use 1/8-inch stainless steel cables. These cables can be strung around your garden, creating high vantage points for dragonflies to rest and hunt. I use these cables to trellis various plants, and they work wonders for attracting dragonflies.
2. Add a Water Feature
To attract these fascinating insects, you’ll need to create a space that feels like their natural home. Dragonflies, being aquatic creatures, spend a big part of their life in and around water. The best way to cater to them is by adding a water feature like a pond to your garden. Dragonflies start their life as nymphs in the water and eventually emerge to perch on nearby plants, drying out and gearing up for their hunt.
If a pond isn’t an option, smaller water features like rain gardens or even water bowls with perches can still do the trick. Something as simple as a birdbath with a flat rock inside can serve as a perfect resting spot for these incredible hunters.
A well-planned pond, however, can be a dragonfly magnet. It offers a breeding ground for their young and a hunting ground for adults.
Dragonflies prefer ponds that are over 2 feet deep, as shallower waters aren’t suitable for egg-laying. Adding a variety of underwater and floating plants will provide the necessary shelter for dragonfly eggs and nymphs. Surrounding the pond with flat stones and sticks gives adult dragonflies places to rest and hunt from, making your garden an ideal dragonfly haven.
Avoid adding fish to your pond, as they prey on dragonfly larvae.
4. Choose the Right Plants
Unlike the monarch butterfly, Dragonflies aren’t picky about specific plants. They just need the right hangout spots, kind of like how we all just want a comfy couch and good Wi-Fi. They love open, sunny gardens with a mix of plant heights and types. Setting up a cozy garden retreat with tall grasses, branches, and broad leaves will make your dragonfly guests feel right at home.
Consider adding plants like Joe-Pye weed, lavender, and goldenrod. These tall beauties provide perfect perches for dragonflies to rest and soak up the sun. Dragonflies love water as much as we love a good pool party. Adding aquatic plants like water horsetail, fanwort, pickerelweed, water mint, and lotus to your pond offers extra shelter and a place to rest between flights.
Bright blooms like Black-eyed Susans, meadow sage, yarrow, borage, and bee balm are a hit with dragonflies. Plant these near your water feature for a dragonfly hotspot that’s bound to become the talk of the town (or at least the garden).
Don’t stress too much about sticking to native plants. While they’re always a good choice, dragonflies are pretty flexible and will make themselves at home among a variety of plants, even those exotic or invasive ones.
4. Create Shelter
Dragonflies, in their early days as adults, are particularly susceptible to birds and other predators. They need some time for their bodies to firm up and their flight skills to sharpen. During this vulnerable period, dragonflies typically emerge at night, seeking hidden spots to stay safe. By creating a habitat with a mix of horizontal and vertical surfaces like rocks and diverse vegetation, you can provide essential cover for them.
Dragonflies also need perches to rest, hunt, and survey their territory. Mimicking their natural environment by offering a variety of plant types is key. Vertical plants, such as cattails and tall sedges, along with horizontal surfaces like the broad leaves of water lilies, are perfect for perching. Submerged plants like hornwort and anacharis contribute to creating an ideal habitat for these fascinating insects.
To enhance their safety, consider crafting an insect hotel. A simple birdhouse filled with bark, straw, and twigs can serve as a cozy refuge. Position this near your water feature, whether it’s a pond or a birdbath, to attract dragonflies and give them a secure place to rest. Adding plants like cardinal flower, blue flag iris, and marsh marigold around the water can also make your garden more appealing to dragonflies.
