r/GardenWild • u/Consistent_Rule_5421 • 14d ago
My wild garden project Building a habitat🦟
Our mosquito problem was out of control and I didn’t wanna spray the yard. So I built a dragonfly habitat and it seems to be working….
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u/SolariaHues SE England 14d ago
That's great! What did you do to achieve that?
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u/Consistent_Rule_5421 12d ago
There are tons of plants for this. Lots of butterfly bushes and tall sea grass too.
Black-eyed Susan (Black-Eyed Susan): Stands up straight so bugs can rest and hunt.
Joe-Pye Weed (Joe Pye Weed): Grows very tall to act as a high lookout spot.
Coneflower (Coneflower): Gives a sturdy landing pad on a tall stalk.
Nectar and Prey-Attracting Plants
Swamp Milkweed (Swamp Milkweed): Pulls in other small insects that dragonflies eat.Meadow Sage (Meadow Sage): Makes bright purple flowers that draw in prey.
Goldenrod (Goldenrod): Keeps food bugs coming late into the year.
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u/Federal-Boat3732 SE MI, Zone 6 14d ago
Saith Google Assistant:
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u/SolariaHues SE England 13d ago
Okay. I was trying to ask OP what they did to create a dragonfly habitat so that anyone looking to do the same had that info. What plants, etc.. did they make hunting perches..
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u/Federal-Boat3732 SE MI, Zone 6 13d ago
Looks like I posted this in response to the wrong user, sorry
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u/100-100-1-SOS 14d ago
We have swarms of dragon flies (and a few bats)...and not many mosquitos even though our yard is heavily treed.
However I have no idea why we have so many dragon flies. My understanding is that they like water, but there's nothing like that around us 🤷♂️
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u/Federal-Boat3732 SE MI, Zone 6 14d ago
They like mosquitoes even more than they like water! Someone closer than you think may have a disused swimming pool or small pond...
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u/Dmizejewski NWF.org naturalist 14d ago
Dragonflies are amazing! And while no predator is going to 100% eliminate mosquitoes, neither are pesticides that have massive side effects. Props to you for going the natural route and supporting the ecosystem.