What Does It Mean When There Are Lots Of Dragonflies

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Last Updated on March 10, 2025 by Joshua

Ever seen a swarm of dragonflies flying past you and wondered what does it mean when there are lots of dragonflies in your area?

Many dragonflies seen in one area have always been the subject of myths and legends, and a huge part of human stories are told from one generation to another. These brightly colored insects are known for their vibrant colors and flying abilities.

Even though they are just insects, they are somehow revered in some communities and feared in others. Let’s learn what it means when there are lots of dragonflies in your yard.

What Does It Mean When There Are Lots Of Dragonflies In Your Area

The one primary reason why you have an abnormal swarm of dragonflies in your yard is primarily because of water proximity. If you have a pool, water feature or standing water from recent rainfall, dragonflies will visit your yard because they are attracted to the water.

Dragonflies flock to water sources -rivers, streams, and lakesor other sources of water where they develop as nymphs. They take at least one year to develop from egg to adult stage, some taking at least 2 or 3 years.

The large swarms of dragonflies you see are at least 1 year old or probably 2 years old. Today’s abundance of these insects is related to what happened 1 to 3 years ago. They are pretty common and in high numbers when healthy water ecosystems are abundant, which is a good thing. These insects travel long distances to congregate in areas with plenty of food, such as mosquitoes and ants, etc.

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So What Attracts Them To Your Yard?

Water is the number one cause of an influx of dragonflies. However, there are other reasons that may attract these insects to your yard. They include

Stagnant Water

As we have mentioned above dragonflies, love water. They are attracted by streams, ponds, or any mushy type of landscape. These insects are drawn to areas where there is stagnant water, such as wetlands, ponds, or streams. If your yard has stagnant water, it attracts an abnormal number of these insects around your home. Dragonflies still live in the water. They breed in water, and most of their sustenance is found in water bugs. Some people even set a small pond to attract these insects in their homes. They spend up to 2 years forming and growing in the water and only leave for about 4 weeks after adulthood.

Availability Of Other Bugs

Another reason you may have plenty of these invasive insects in your yard could be due to bugs infesting in your yard. Mosquitoes are dragonflies’ favorite snacks and will invade any yard that has a good amount of them. If your yard has a high population of mosquitoes, then it you may expect to see dragonflies. Just like dragonflies, mosquitoes are drawn to water where they breed and congregate. Even a simple water feature like a birdbath could attract both dragonflies and mosquitoes. One other area that could cause both mosquitoes and dragonflies could be standing water in a clogged gutter, so ensure that your gutters are clear of standing water.

Weather Conditions

Weather is a significant contributor to dragonfly infestation. Rain, snow, and thunderstorms can all leave stagnant water in your yard providing an ideal environment for dragonflies to take over. Dragonflies also have a migration pattern that is based on the seasons. They will go south to find a warmer climate during the winter but do not usually migrate in swarms. The green darner dragonfly migrates together for breeding. If you happen to fall in the migration path, then the infestation becomes heavy due to migration.

Types Of Dragonflies Swarms

Static Swarms

A static swarm is a smaller group of dragonflies flying in a small area. These dragonflies swarm around for feeding purposes. A static swarm contains different varieties of dragonflies, not like the migratory swarm.

Migratory Swarm

A migratory swarm features hundreds of dragonflies flying together.  These swarms are similar to butterflies or birds who migrate to warmer weather together when it comes to wintertime.

Eliminating These Insects From Your Yard

These insects are attracted to mosquitoes and stagnant water. The best way to get rid of dragonfly infestation in your yard is to eliminate any stagnant water, which will, in turn, eliminate mosquitoes. If you have a pool or some other form of standing water there are a few ways to decrease the chance of dragonflies in your yard. You can add frogs to your pond to eat up the dragonflies.

If you keep your pond fresh and well-maintained, dragonflies will unlikely want to breed in your pond. This will eliminate any dragonfly infestations in your yard.

If all these methods fail, you can also bring in a trusted professional team to help with pest extermination and treat your yard. Most local companies have a pet and kids-friendly options to eliminate dragonflies from your yard safely.

However, the question would be: Why would you want to get rid of dragonflies in your yard?

Benefits of Dragonflies in your yard

1. Dragonflies offer Natural Pest Control. Dragonflies are voracious predators, feeding on mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and other small insects. A single dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in a day, making them excellent for reducing pest populations.
2. Eco-Friendly Solution
   Unlike chemical pesticides, dragonflies provide a natural and sustainable way to manage insect pests without harming the environment.
3. Garden Health
   By controlling harmful insects, dragonflies indirectly protect your plants from pests that might damage foliage, flowers, and vegetables.
4. Biodiversity Boost
   Dragonflies attract other beneficial wildlife like birds, frogs, and even pollinators, creating a more balanced ecosystem in your yard.
5. Aesthetic Appeal
   With their vibrant colors and graceful flight, dragonflies add beauty and a sense of tranquility to your garden. The beautiful insects come in a wide variety of colors and add a beautiful natural element to any garden.
6. Indicator of Water Quality
   Dragonflies thrive near clean water sources. Their presence often signals a healthy environment with minimal pollution.

Tips to Attract MORE Dragonflies

• Add a small pond, water feature, bird bath or other water source. Ensure that the water is not stagnant as this can also attract mosquitoes.
• Incorporate native plants that provide perching spots, ornamental grasses, flowering plants.
• Avoid pesticides that could harm dragonfly populations.

Conclusion

Next time a fellow gardener asks what does a swarm of dragonflies means you are now in a better position to answer them not with myths but the correct information.

So what Does It Mean When There Are Lots Of Dragonflies?

Dragonflies can be helpful in eating up mosquitoes and so you must not consider them to be a serious problem but a sign of a healthy garden!

Even if you don’t have mosquitoes in your yard but you love the beautiful colors of the dragonfly, consider adding a water feature to attract them to beauty your yard and garden.  Remember to remove any stagnant water sources to minimize mosquitoes.

Don’t forget to appreciate them for their support in the ecosystem. Creating a dragonfly-friendly space can enhance both the visual appeal and the ecological balance of your yard.

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