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Pondside with a Damselfly

© Marie A. Miczak

Attracting wildlife can be such a perk to building and maintaining a water garden. Even when they are on a small scale. When dragonflies and the damselfly (sewing needle) are seen hovering around your water feature, you know you've done a fantastic job. Unless water quality is balanced and free of chemicals and there is plenty of shelter by way of landscaping, many species of these winged beauties will pass your pond by. Finicky they must be as it can take one to two years for a new life cycle to begin. Important insects, they dine on mosquitoes and put on exciting flying shows.

For many reasons a pond can become out of balance &/or contaminated. It is important to make sure you have proper plant cover in your pond. Many put the range from 50 to 75 percent of the water surface. Plants will help reduce wild fluctuations in water temperature as well as soak up fish waste which can feed algae. In many cases pea green, cloudy water is the result of not enough plants and too high of a fish load. While plants may seem to cost more compared to so called algae killers and other treatments, in the long run they will save a lot of headache. Water plants also provide a place for dragonfly and damselfly to lay their eggs. Water lettuce and water hyacinth seem to be a favorite among the damselfly as they like to lay eggs in stems submerged a bit under water.

Aquatic plants alone will not attract dragonfly or damselfly. They need shelter and cover as well. Damselfly usually live in waterside plants and many times mate in trees. Ponds that don't have bog areas or gardens planted around them don't seem to be very attractive. Long and tall reeds, cattails, irises and even day lily leaves which are very grass like provide perches for damselfly to rest on. A small tree such as a Japanese maple or weeping cherry, both of which stay small, can also be planted to provide added attractive cover.

It is amazing to see the many sizes and colors of dragonfly and damselfly. Some are extremely huge while others are literally sewing needle like in dimension. A common damselfly you will most likely be able to attract in North America is the Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum), A lovely turquoise color, the thin body and large eyes are a sure give away to the species. Its wings are like stained glass, clear with lovely black veining. Towards the end of the year and after many fights, its wings can

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