Skimmer dragonfly

Important clarification: The genus Libellula (commonly known as skimmers) is not a plant pest. In fact, these insects are classified as beneficial predators that play a crucial role in naturally regulating populations of various flying insects within an agricultural landscape.

Systematically, this object belongs to the order Odonata (Dragonflies) and the family Libellulidae (Common skimmers). Both adult dragonflies and their larvae are active predators, making them valuable allies for the agronomist in the management of farm ecosystems.

The biology and life cycle of these insects are inextricably linked to aquatic environments. Females lay eggs in still or slow-moving water. The larvae, known as nymphs, develop underwater for 1–3 years, feeding on small aquatic organisms, including mosquito larvae, which establishes them as a vital component of the local ecosystem.

Their interaction with crops is strictly limited to using plants as perches for hunting. Dragonflies do not feed on plant tissues, consume sap, or oviposit in crop stems; therefore, they pose no threat to agricultural productivity or plant health.

The economic value of dragonflies lies in their consumption of adult harmful flies (such as biting flies, horseflies, and mosquitoes) and small lepidopterans. No control measures are needed. On the contrary, it is recommended to maintain natural water sources and minimize the use of broad-spectrum insecticides to support the population of these beneficial entomophages on your land.