Dragonflies and damselflies are iconic wetland insects whose welfare and conservation depend on clean water, aquatic vegetation, and territorial habitat. Their population status reflects the health of freshwater ecosystems.
The welfare significance of dragonfly conservation depends on assessments of invertebrate sentience that remain scientifically unresolved. Current evidence suggests insects have nociceptive responses and that some forms of suffering may be possible, though the complexity and duration of any experience is uncertain. From a precautionary perspective, supporting dragonfly populations has potential welfare significance for the millions of individual insects in UK habitats. More concretely, dragonflies are important indicator species: their presence and diversity reflects clean water and structurally complex wetland habitat that benefits a wide range of species whose sentience and welfare significance is clearer. Creating garden ponds and restoring wetland habitats benefits dragonfly larvae and adults while simultaneously providing habitat for vertebrate species including frogs, newts, and wetland birds whose welfare needs are better established.