Kennebec Journal Online

Dragonflies unleashed to fight mosquitoes

Associated Press

WELLS - Wells is using an old weapon again in the battle to control
mosquitoes: it has unleashed 17,000 dragonflies, the natural predator
of the blood-sucking insects.

The Wells Chamber of Commerce started the program 26 years ago when
controversy arose over the spraying of pesticides in town.

"It does make a heck of a difference," said Marty Goodman, 85, of
South Berwick, who has been participating in the program since its
inception. "You can sit on my deck and not get bugged to death."

Scores of area residents and businesses, including Sleepytown and
Tidewood Motel and Cottages in Wells, and Dixon's Campground and
Hoyt's Cottages in Cape Neddick, participate.

The chamber takes orders for dragonfly nymphs in late winter and
picks them up from a supplier in the spring. Bags of 50 cost $30 and
bags of 100 cost $52. Those with a big mosquito problem can get 1,000
for $450.

This year the chamber filled 150-200 orders for dragonfly nymphs
totaling 17,000 dragonflies, said Wendy Griffiths, the chamber's
"Dragonfly Queen" and part-time bookkeeper.

"They do eat massive amounts of mosquitoes," she said. "So its an
excellent way to control them.

"We have people that come back year after year to replenish them,"
Griffiths said. "It pays for itself."

However, University of New Hampshire entomologist John Burger
questioned whether dragonflies can effectively control mosquitoes.

"It's an interesting idea," Burger said, "but there's not a shred of
evidence that it happens as far as I know. I've never seen any
studies that quantify the density of mosquitoes and dragonflies."

Goodman doesn't need any studies. She is convinced.

She put her immature dragonflies in different spots in the wetlands
surrounding her home. They set to work immediately, eating the
mosquito larvae in the water, and later when they hatch, in the air.

"I have no bugs on my lot," Goodman said. "Once in a while I'll see a
bee or a wasp, but no mosquitoes."

Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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