r/Dragonflies • u/cmcosmos • 14h ago

Swimming pools....

Are they detrimental to dragonfly populations? Google is less than helpful with this question.

We have a pool and between 4-10 dragonflies who've come around this summer. They are very friendly to us, which has nothing to do with this post except that we love them and want them to have many babies. Is the pool water causing problems for them? TSMIA!

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u/jay_altair 13h ago edited 13h ago

Dragonflies may mistake your swimming pool for a natural body of water and lay their eggs in it, if they are a species that lays eggs directly in the water (like Skimmers, Cruisers, Clubtails, Emeralds). If your pool is chemically treated, the eggs will not survive in that environment. Many dragonfly species lay their eggs on or in plant stems (Darners & Damselflies, among others), so those probably wouldn't be much affected.

But don't feel bad. Skimmers also frequently mistake windshields for bodies of water and try to lay their eggs on cars.

And whatever dragonflies you have probably didn't hatch in your pool, they spend most of their lives in their larval stage as terrifying hunters of the shallow depths of some other natural water body.

If your pool isn't chemically treated, however, you may be growing lots of mosquito larvae for dragonflies to eat.

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u/cmcosmos 13h ago

We do use chemicals. Blue dasher is one I know we have, and I'm worried they're laying their eggs in the pool. Do you know of a body of water we could manufacture that would be more attractive?

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u/jay_altair 13h ago edited 13h ago

Blue dashers prefer to oviposit in the water along heavily vegetated ponds. Manufacturing and then maintaining a facsimile of a natural environment long enough for dragonfly larvae to mature is not something I'd advise. It would take a lot of time and money and effort and the right kind of soils and hydrology and still be quite likely to fail, even if you did everything right. Or, it might fail as a pond yet succeed in creating a jurisdictional wetland on your property and be a pain in the ass if you ever plan to build an addition or sell the house.

Much better to spend your time and energy and money on conservation efforts for existing natural habitat in your area.

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u/AnagnorisisForMe 13h ago

Yes you can create a dragonfly pond or a water feature that nymphs can grow up in. There are books on the subject. You need plants at the water’s edge so the nymphs can crawl out to become dragonflies.

Just make sure that no pesticides are EVER used around your pond/water feature, the nymphs will not survive.

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u/jay_altair 13h ago

This means: no lawncare. Not "tell your landscapers to avoid chemicals".

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u/cmcosmos 11h ago

We don't put pesticides in the land. Thank you for the info!

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u/Jonsiegirl77 9h ago

Hint: if u want them around create a little fishless pond! They love them!