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You need larger-scale objects to attract dragonflies than to attract butterflies. Objects like a large, flat surface (dragonflies think it is like water) such as a basketball or tennis court or large driveway. That or a large water feature.

Otherwise just the occasional one will pass through your yard.

Dragonflies spend more time living in fresh water as nymphs than they do flying around as adults. So you need to live near water habitat to see dragonflies in your yard. They feed on mosquitoes and other small insects, so if you maintain a lawn & garden free of toxic chemicals, you should end up with a healthy population of insects, and this will attract dragonflies. Damselflies seem to like tall grasses for perching-we have them in our yard every day, all summer long. I only see dragonflies now and then.

Thanks for your replies! Do you happen to know if Mosquito Dunks are harmful to dragonfly nymphs? I haven't been able to find any info to say it is or isn't harmful to them. t.i.a.

-Nel

Mosquito dunks are made of Bacillus thuringiensis Israelensis, a bacterium strain only known to infect insect members of the Diptera order.....flies, mosquitoes, gnats. Dragonflies are members of the Odanta order.

Be careful about going heavy on the dunks, though. Mosquito naiads are an important food source for the dragonfly nymphs.