Insects begin to appear in the spring. Warm temperature and water are all that is required for them to thrive. Everybody despises mosquitoes, but chemical-laden repellents aren’t the only option available.
Have you considered using plants that attract dragonflies to get rid of mosquitoes?
When it comes to controlling mosquitoes and other insects, dragonflies are a godsend.
Dragonflies & Mosquito Control
When it comes to managing mosquito populations, dragonflies are essential. Mosquitoes and their larvae are both prey for these creatures. So, it’s time to have those dragonflies flying around your house!
10 Plants That Attract Dragonflies
It is necessary to have trees, shrubs, and a variety of different kinds of plants. Young dragonflies will require a place to hide. Besides butterflies and beetles, dragonflies also prey on beetles, wasps, moths, and other pollinators. It’s also necessary to plant flowering plants. Water plants that grow around or within ponds are also advantageous.
Land Plants
To attract dragonflies, you’ll need to build a pond in your backyard for them to mate and lay eggs. It’s possible to attract dragonflies in a variety of methods. The following plants will help you attract more dragonflies to your yard.
1. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
It attracts pollinators and butterflies. In warm locations, wildflowers grow for a few years before dying off in the winter. In terms of soil, Black-eyed Susan can thrive in any and all conditions and prefers full sun and regular watering.
2. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnate)
Common milkweed is a close relative of the genus of this plant. Swamp milkweed blooms every year with white and pink blossoms. Dragonfly prey is attracted to the perennial plant, which thrives in damp, sunny environments.
3. Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum)
Its pale pink-purple flowers bloom from mid-summer until the end of autumn. Joe-Pye Weed attracts predators and can reach a height of 3-12 feet before becoming a problem. When crushed, the blossoms give out a stronger vanilla scent that lasts longer after being cut. The plant thrives in damp woodlands and meadows that receive full or partial sunlight. Make a diuretic tea out of dried roots and flowers.
4. Marcus Meadow Sage (Salvia Marcus)
A perennial with stunning purple flowers, it’s a real eye-catcher. It does best in direct sunlight, although it can also thrive in moderate shade. Make use of the morning light and midday shade. With time, the plant adapts well to dry conditions and does not require much water. But the absence of water can be a problem.
5. White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Large clusters of 20-25 blooms are characteristic of this perennial wildflower’s phenology. Butterfly and parasitic wasps are attracted to it because it is disease resistant. When it comes to soil, white yarrow prefers dry to medium moisture and well-drained soil in full or partial light.
Pond Plants
This might not be the worst idea after all. Dragonflies can stay up to two months submerged, and they frequently do so. Dragonflies rely on ponds for a variety of activities, including mating, hunting, reproduction, and resting.
Get some rocks and put them around the pond as well. They need rocks to conceal and grow underwater for dragonfly larvae, which require rocks. Provide a landing area for dragonflies by scattering sticks about the pond.
6. Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia)
Duck-potato, or arrowhead, is an aquatic perennial that grows above the surface of a lake or river. An adult female dragonfly lays her eggs on a plant. In the spring, press the plant’s tuber into the submerged earth. Submerged leaves aren’t a problem if you weigh them down. They’re going to get a lot bigger in a short period of time.
7. Wild Celery (Vallisneria Americana)
It is an ideal watery environment for dragonflies. On the surface of the water, mature dragonflies lay their eggs. Plant it where it will receive at least 18 inches of water every day.
To keep your pond clean, place wild celery tubes in cheesecloth stuffed with soil or stones. The sprouts will not re-grow if they are broken, so be careful when handling them.
8. Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile)
It comprises two parts: submerged and floating. Instead of starting with seeds, use nursery plants. Plant the rhizomes near the pond’s edge two inches below the soil’s surface. Short periods of dry weather will not harm the plant once it is established. Partially shaded or full sun conditions are ideal for water horsetail.
9. Cattail (Typha latifolia)
Bull rushes are another name for cattail. It thrives in swampy locations when the soil is wet. Cattails should not be planted in shady areas and should be propagated from rhizomes. The plant is easily transportable.
10. Water Lily
Water lilies are ideal for depositing eggs because of their watery habitat. Submerge the pots into the water and plant the tubers. Water lilies need rocks to stay submerged. Your pond’s surface is covered in leaves and blooms.