Wildlife

Dragonfly and Damselfly Conservation: Wetland Welfare

Dragonflies and damselflies are indicators of clean freshwater health and face welfare threats from habitat loss and pollution.

Key Facts

Britain has 57 species of dragonfly and damselfly with several showing significant declines
They spend most of their life as aquatic larvae sometimes for many years
Adults are important predators of small insects including pest species
Several species have colonised Britain from continental Europe as climate warms
White-faced darter and Norfolk hawker are among the rarest breeding species

Welfare Considerations

Dragonfly and damselfly welfare is tied to water quality and wetland availability. Loss of ponds particularly farm ponds has eliminated breeding habitat across large areas of Britain. Agricultural pollution with nitrates and pesticides kills aquatic larvae. Invasive water plants like azolla smother ponds. Climate-driven drought causes larval mortality in drying ponds. The welfare of these invertebrates is often overlooked despite evidence of nociception.

What You Can Do

Create or restore garden and community ponds as breeding habitat
Avoid using pesticides near ponds which kill aquatic invertebrates
Support the British Dragonfly Society surveys and conservation projects
Campaign for improved agricultural water quality standards near wetlands
Plant native marginal plants around ponds to provide egg-laying sites