The darning needle is an intriguing predator, and because it can be found near ponds, it is no surprise that those who try to identify it want to know, “What is a darning needle insect?”. The bright beauty of dragonflies is where these insects earn their name. This originated from ancient folklore, and the belief that they had the power to sew together human skin. In reality, they are harmless to both humans and pets. They also provide excellent organic pest management through the consumption of mosquitoes. Within this guide, you will learn about their biology, dispel myths, and understand the many ecological advantages of knowing more about these flying creatures. By understanding this flying marvel, you will appreciate your backyard ecosystem and the role these creatures play in it. In particular, we will demonstrate why having more of these creatures indicates that you are creating a healthy environment.
What Insect is Sometimes Known as the Darning Needle?
If you have ever been near a lake, you may have seen a shimmering, rapidly moving insect flying around. Many people will wonder what insect this is, which is sometimes called a “darning needle”. This term refers to many different types of insects, within the group Odonata (the “dragonfly” and “damselfly” groups).
Throughout history, folklore has created a frightening reputation for these insects—in particular, parents would tell their kids that these insects know how to “sew” their eyes shut. As a result, they have earned the nickname “Devil’s Darning Needle”. However, while other insects can sew, the darning needles themselves do not possess “sewing” equipment and are not capable of inflicting stings. They are fast-hunting insects with a lineage that stretches back to prehistoric times, and scientists now regard darning needles as great indicators of the quality of water. In general, if you see darning needle insects around your house, you probably have good water quality.
Identifying the Darning Needle Insect
Identifying a darning needle insect is actually quite easy once you know what to look for. They feature long and thin bodies that mirror the heavy sewing needle shape. The four wings of the darning needle insect are translucent yet extremely powerful. There’s also a pair of large eyes that take up almost the entire head of a darning needle insect which aids these insects in their ability to see in nearly all directions at once.
You will find two species of darning needle insects (dragonflies and damselflies) in your garden. Dragonflies are typically recognized by their habit of resting with their wings held out perpendicular to their bodies. In contrast, damselflies tend to be smaller and much more delicate than the average size of a dragonfly. Damselflies usually rest with their wings folded neatly up against their bodies instead of extended out from their bodies, as do dragonflies. Both dragonflies and damselflies play an important role in providing a comfortable environment for you and your garden. However, because of the speed at which they fly, they are often difficult to capture in photographs; yet their vivid metallic colours can be easily seen in natural daylight.
The Life Cycle: From Water to Sky
The life of a darning needle insect begins in a very different environment. Most of their existence actually happens underwater. Females lay their eggs on aquatic plants or directly into the water. Once they hatch, the young insects are called nymphs.
These nymphs are fierce predators in their own right. They spend months or even years living at the bottom of ponds. During this time, they eat mosquito larvae and small fish. This stage is crucial for maintaining a balanced pond ecosystem. Eventually, the nymph crawls out of the water onto a reed. Its outer skin splits open, and the winged adult emerges. This process is truly a miracle of nature. Afterward, the adult must wait for its wings to dry and harden. Once they are ready, they take to the sky to begin their hunt for flying pests.
Ecological Importance: Nature’s Pest Control
The term “mosquito hawk” applies to the darning needle insect for a reason: The adult darning needle insect can consume several hundred mosquitoes daily. They utilize the same technique as other insects (i.e., using their legs as a basket) when capturing their prey while in flight, and they have an approximate success rate of 95%, making them one of Earth’s most successful predators.
They also help to create a more pleasant outdoor environment for us by preying on gnats and flies. Thus, the presence of them in our environment provides us with free pest control. Some homeowners are attempting to draw in these beneficial insects by creating small backyard ponds; you can attract/keep them in your yard as long as you provide an appropriate environment, your yard will remain free of pests; therefore when a darning needle insect is present, there is zero chance of attracting any type of pest, including gnats and flies.
If you don’t see dragonflies in your backyard, you may be at risk of having too many mosquitoes at your home. Professional services can help make a more pleasant environment.
Inspection
Our experts assess your specific pest issues. With over 50 years in the business, you can count on Bugg Control to meticulously inspect your home and find out exactly what is causing problems.
Treatment
With mosquitoes in particular, infestations can be prevented with proper sealing. When infestations are identified, we use ULV treatment to rid your Buffalo home of mosquitoes.
No Buggs Guarantee
Bugg Control is a pest control specialist serving the Buffalo, NY area with a “No Buggs Guarantee”. We also offer bee, ant, stink bug, and spider control services.
Safety for Humans and Pets
The greatest worry that most people have when seeing these creatures is whether or not they are dangerous. Because of their fast flight and large size, they can seem intimidating. But don’t forget that dragonflies, unlike other flying insects, lack a stinger. They also do not attack humans or any larger animals.
If you’ve ever wondered if dragonflies are safe around your pets, be sure to check out our article on whether dragonflies are dragonflies harmful to humans or pets. Learn more about the safety of your pets and dragonflies. and why individuals should not worry about the presence of these creatures. Ultimately, dragonflies are completely harmless to your dog or cat, and they spend 100% of their time hunting for smaller insects, so you can relax knowing that when dragonflies hover around your porch, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
Managing Your Environment
The presence of darning needle insects may be beneficial; however, their high population indicates that there is likely a water source nearby. The darning needle insects will breed in the water and feed on the mosquitoes. The more mosquitoes you have, the more darning needles you will see.
To protect them, do not use broad-spectrum pesticides in your garden because these products kill all the beneficial insects, including those that catch mosquitoes. Instead, implement natural ways to keep your ecosystem balanced. A healthy yard contains many forms of life. Maintaining that balance reduces the necessity to treat your yard with large quantities of chemicals.
Frequently Asked Questions
They primarily feed on flying insects such as mosquitoes, flies, gnats, etc. They have great potential for being natural pest control agents in controlling the population of flying insects that humans consider pests.
Darning needle insects derived their names from the legends of an ancient folklore of them being able to sew people’s ears and eyes shut. The name darning needle also describes the shape of darning needles as resembling the long, thin form of darning needle insects.
Generally, most darning needle insect species are active during the day and are thus able to utilize their sharp eyesight to hunt for food (insects) while in the air.
Dragonflies and damselflies feed on mosquitoes. So, not only are they pretty to look at in your yard, they are also doing you a favor by saving you from pesky mosquito bites in the summer.
Making a small pond or water source (creating a more natural environment) and planting various native flowers, which serve as resting stations between meals, will attract darning needle insects into your yard.
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