Mosquitoes are as much a part of summer in the south as swimming and barbeque. The Aquascape Environmental phones start ringing this time of year with requests to help control the annoying insects, and we do offer applications of mosquito control briquettes for small bodies of water. But for those who prefer a 100% non-chemical weapon in the war against those tiny blood-suckers, allow us to suggest engaging winged allies in your battle: dragonflies!
Dragonflies are aquatic insects, planting their eggs along the waterlines of small ponds, and are natural predators of mosquitoes throughout their life cycles. Dragonfly larvae feed on mosquito eggs and larvae, and adult dragonflies seek a steady diet of mosquitoes (as well as flies and other pesky insects). In fact, dragonflies are also known as “mosquito hawks”!
Certain conditions are necessary for dragonflies to choose your pond as a habitat, and thereby (hopefully) make a dent in your mosquito population. Dragonflies prefer a pond that’s shallow at the edges. They seek vegetation as protection from predators, so planting native shrubs and grasses in the buffer zone is useful in attracting them to your pond (and offers other benefits as well). Some limited amount of vegetation in the shallows is also helpful, as dragonflies will lay eggs on plants that rise from the water line. And dragonflies are natural prey to fish, so a well-stocked pond isn’t likely to encourage a large dragonfly population.
Note that we don’t recommend purchasing or otherwise importing dragonflies for mosquito control purposes. If the conditions are right, they’ll come, but some water bodies just aren’t hospitable for them.
