Dragonflies and damselflies are sensitive indicators of freshwater quality whose larval stage welfare depends on clean, well-oxygenated water with abundant aquatic vegetation.
While the sentience of dragonfly larvae remains scientifically uncertain, the ecological harm from habitat destruction eliminates populations that may have morally relevant experiences. Dragonfly larvae are active predators with complex nervous systems and avoidance behaviours. Aquatic pesticide contamination impairs larval development and survival. Pond drying from drought and water extraction causes mass mortality of larvae dependent on continuous water. The welfare-relevant status of insects and related arthropods deserves ongoing scientific attention given the enormous scale of their population changes.