How To Attract Dragonflies And Damselflies Into Your Garden
It’s that time of year again when we are amazed at the colors and the flying ability of dragonflies and damselflies zipping around in the warm air. From metallic blues to greens to yellows, these insects are surely some of our most beautiful to look at and fascinating to watch.
So strangely one of the most common search here on Eco Living Advice over the last few weeks has been about how to attract these flying acrobats into your garden so you can not only help to keep their numbers up but also to enjoy the simple spectacle of these amazing insects doing what they do best.
The bad news is that attracting damselflies and dragonflies into the garden isn’t as easy as it is with some species but there are still a number of things that we can do to greatly increase our chances of luring them into our gardens.
Dragonflies and damselflies essentially like four main elements and the more of these that you can simulate in your garden the greater your chances of actually attracting them in.
Sunshine
Being cold blooded yet very active, dragonflies and damselflies like to be able to bask in the warmth of the summer sun so the warmer and sunnier your garden is the better it will be for these insects. That may mean trimming back a few bushes but the effort will be well worthwhile.
Perches
Dragonflies and damselflies like to be able to perch in full sunlight where they can not only warm up but also rest and keep an eye out for potential prey. Either creating artificial perches for them out of twigs or planting shrubs and grasses to act as perches can also be a welcome addition to your garden. Plant a few of these lower-growing plants in the area of your garden that gets the most sun for best results.
Food
These insects are carnivores and catch flying insects on the wing so the more insect life you have in your garden the more interest there will be for the dragonflies and damselflies.
Water
Dragonflies and damselflies lay their eggs under water where the nymphs hatch and grow before leaving the water in the spring to turn into an adult. So if you have a pond with reasonable plant cover that the insects can rest on to lay their eggs all the better.
But water isn’t just useful for egg laying of course. It also attracts a host of flying insects in it’s own right which act as a source of prey for dragonflies and damselflies. And don’t forget that if these insects lay eggs in your pond then they you may be able to enjoy the spectacle of the adult insects hatching out.
So there you have it. Ideally build a small pond in the sunniest part of your garden and ensure that not only is there plenty of plant life *in* the water so the insects can lay eggs but also around the sides to act as perches for the adults during their aerial assaults.
Related Eco Friendly Articles:
- 9 Ways To Attract Wildlife Into Your Garden
- 5 Ways To Use Your Garden For Recycling
- How To Attract Hedgehogs Into Your Garden
Other Eco Friendly Articles We Recommend:
- Adding A Butterfly Garden To Your Yard (gbronner)
- how to grow your own plant (gbronner)
loading...
A garden without butterflies is not a garden.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Like