Dragonflies are indicators of healthy aquatic ecosystems and face growing threats from water pollution and habitat loss affecting their complex life cycles.
Dragonfly welfare considerations span their complex two-phase life cycles. Aquatic larvae are vulnerable to water quality degradation, predation from introduced fish species, and drainage of breeding habitat. Adult dragonflies face pesticide exposure affecting their aerial hunting and reproduction. While invertebrate sentience evidence is weaker than for vertebrates, the precautionary principle applies, and the ecological importance of healthy dragonfly populations is well established. Habitat loss that eliminates dragonfly populations creates cascading welfare effects for birds and other predators that depend on them as prey.