Dragonflies Can Eliminate Mosquitoes—Here’s What to Plant to Attract Them
Dragonflies Can Eliminate Mosquitoes—Here’s What to Plant to Attract Them
Face it: we all hate having to keep a bottle of bug spray handy to fight off the swarm of mosquitoes whenever we want to relax in our backyards. Bug repellents can be messy and a hassle to use (not to mention you have to reapply it like, every hour).
Luckily, mother nature has created a solution to this problem: dragonflies. Not only are the insects beautiful, but they have the ability to eat 100 mosquitoes a day! And it's not just the full-grown ones contributing—dragonfly larvae typically consume the most mosquitoes.
Now, in order to use this secret weapon that mother nature has provided, you have to know how to attract dragonflies. This can easily be done by planting specific plants in your garden (Bonus: the plants are just as beautiful as the dragonflies):
1) Black Eyed Susan
SeedGeeks
etsy.com
$4.95
If you're a low-maintenance gardener like myself, this is the perfect plant to add to your garden to help fight against those pesky mosquitoes. This radiant plant can survive in almost any type of soil and only requires sunlight and to be watered regularly to bloom.
2) Dwarf Sagittaria
plantsfactory
amazon.com
$14.47
At first glance you may think this plant is a weed or a type of grass, but it's not! It is an aquatic plant that needs hard water and a nutrient-rich substrate to grow. But don't worry, this plant is beginner friendly for all the aquatic plant newbies—so long as you have a body of water to put it in.
3) Meadow Sage
Outsidepride
amazon.com
$6.49
Many call this perennial 'Blue Hill' meadow sage for the hue it tints the area where it's planted (though it is a bit more purple!). It's fairly easy to grow and just requires sunlight, some shade, and little water. This plant is ideal for dry areas, as it can go for long periods of time without water
4) Yarrow White Wildflower
Outsidepride
amazon.com
$6.49
Yarrows have been used for medicinal purposes in the past, but for now we'll use it to attract dragonflies. In order for this plant to thrive it needs lots of sunlight, and soil that isn't too rich or moist.
No more bug spray!