Mosquitoes are simply the worst when it comes to summertime. I hate when I am enjoying the beauty of nature all around me, only to come home and find 20 new bug bites that start to itch like crazy. Luckily, I have found a couple of ways to attract dragonflies to my yard to help me get rid of mosquitoes!
Dragonflies
I had no idea dragonflies could help keep mosquitoes out of my yard! I would always use tons of bug spray and citronella products to help keep them off of myself but still managed to get bites all the time.
However, dragonflies help get rid of the mosquitoes from your backyard, so you don’t even have to worry about them at all! Dragonflies can eat up to 100 mosquitoes a day!
Here are a few ways on how to attract dragonflies to your yard so they can help you eliminate those nasty insects.
5 Ways To Attract Dragonflies
1. Add Water
Because dragonflies are aquatic insects, they need lots of water to live and thrive. Having a pond is a great way to attract dragonflies to your backyard and make them feel right at home.
With a pond, you don’t want anything too deep. The best size is one that is around two feet deep, as it is the perfect depth for dragonflies, but not deep enough for mosquitoes to thrive off of as well.
Adding a bubbler or a fountain will also help keep the mosquitoes away. Adding floating things as well to your pond makes it a much more attractive home for the dragonflies to stay.
2. Meadow Sage
Meadow sage, or blue hill, is another great way to help bring dragonflies to your yard. It is very easy to maintain and is absolutely beautiful.
Dragonflies love this beautiful plant, as well as butterflies. Your backyard will not only look stunning but will have beautiful insects all the time while keeping away nasty insects.
3. Black-Eyed Susan
Another great plant to have in your backyard is the black-eyed Susan. These flowers attract dragonflies, butterflies, and bees. These easily grow with enough sun and water.
Black-eyed Susans easily adapt to any soil and, if taken care of, can last all year long! Your yard will stay beautiful even when other plants die during the winter with these flowers.
4. Plenty of Sun
Dragonflies thrive off of tons of sunlight, so make sure your plants and pond have direct sunlight all the time. These insects need warmth from the sun to sustain their energy and metabolism. If it becomes too cold, they won’t come out.
5. No Fish
If you have a pond, why not get some fish right? Wrong. Fish eat dragonflies, so it would be pointless to have fish if your main goal is to keep dragonflies in your yard.
Even if the fish don’t eat the dragonflies, it creates a very stressful environment for them, which the stress alone will kill them. It is best to have a decorative pond with no fish.
Keeping in mind these five things will definitely help you get rid of mosquitoes and attract dragonflies in your yard. Not only will your yard become even more beautiful and wonderful to enjoy the outside more, but you will also not have to worry about those pesky mosquitoes anymore!
