Dragonfly & Damselfly: Facts, Symbolism & How to Attract Them

The dragonfly and its smaller cousin, the damselfly, belong to ancient order Odonata and carry symbolic meaning for centuries. Most love having dragonflies in gardens—they eat mosquitoes!

Who hasn't marveled at dragonflies gliding effortlessly over streams, ponds, lakes, plucking insects with deadly precision?

Dragonfly Facts & Life Cycle

Surprisingly, these aerial masters are classified as aquatic insects—most of life spent as underwater larvae among plants/silt. May spend 5+ years larval, molting several times before emerging as adults—living only weeks to months.

Keen eyesight and expert airmanship let them outmaneuver and catch prey. Four gossamer wings move independently: fly forward, backward, sideways, hover. Bead-like eyes give 360° stereovision—spot insects any direction without turning heads (largest eyes in insect world).

Dragonflies fly directly/purposefully; damselflies flutter. Damselflies have slightly longer abdomens, eyes farther apart.

Damselfly: smaller, eyes farther apart.

Diet: Mosquitoes, midges, moths, flies, flying insects. Unfortunately, also butterflies—planting butterfly flowers may attract both. Dragonflies indicate wetland health: larvae need clean, well-oxygenated water. Wetland drainage, pollution, development reduce habitat. Conservation and new habitats key to survival.

Fossils show dragonflies 100M years pre-dinosaurs. Prehistoric predators with 3+ foot wingspans—largest insects known. Imagine if that big now!

Dragonfly Meaning & Symbolism

• Many Americans: good luck if dragonfly lands unprompted. Chinese tradition: good luck symbol.
• Japanese folklore: symbols of swiftness, summer/autumn signs.
• Native Americans: purity, activity, swiftness. Purity from clean aquatic habitats and eating "from the wind."
• Common names: "Mosquito Hawk" (favorite food), "Devil's Darning Needle" (old tradition: evil), "Snake Doctor" (seen near snakes, sometimes interact).

How to Attract Dragonflies to Your Garden

• Construct a pond/backyard water feature. Size not crucial; deep enough not to freeze solid. Native plants at edge for wind protection. Partial sun minimum.

Dragonflies born and live mostly in aquatic habitats—build a pond to attract them.

• Vertical plants emerging from water: where females lay eggs.
• Providing habitat saves dragonflies and damselflies.
• Avoid pesticides for mosquitoes—they harm beneficials like dragonflies. Natural mosquito deterrents. If you don't control mosquitoes, hopefully dragonflies will!

Read more about dragonfly marvels in our blog on appreciating these rainbow-winged insects.