Conservation needs to consider insects like the iconic dragonfly

In 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature placed 16 per cent of dragonflies and damselflies on its Red List of Threatened Species™, a dramatic decline symptomatic of the widespread loss of wetland habitats. Dragonflies are an ecological indicator species; their presence signifies a healthy freshwater ecosystem. And like the proverbial canary in a coal mine, their declining populations are a sign of a larger problem.

Another problem? Motivating people to care. The plight of insects like dragonflies doesn’t tend to garner the same emotional connection to conservation as, say, a playful otter or a majestic bird. But we happen to know an expert who can help on that front.

Recently, we had an opportunity to catch up with Dr. Rob Cannings, an entomologist and Curator Emeritus for the Royal British Columbia Museum. Cannings wrote the handbook on dragonflies in B.C.

A lifelong insect aficionado, Cannings’ early fascination with Odonata (an order of flying insects that includes dragonflies and damselflies) began while exploring the pond near his childhood home in the Okanagan Valley. In the yard of his former Victoria home, he installed a network of three ponds, designed to attract dragonflies and damselflies with colourful names like the Pacific forktail, blue-eyed darner and cardinal meadowhawk.

“Dragonflies are upper-level predators in the invertebrate food web; they can be linked to habitat quality and have often been identified as excellent indicators of ecosystem health,” says Cannings. He adds that since many aquatic ecosystems such as peatlands, marshes and small lakes are not home to fish, Cannings says invertebrates like dragonflies can sometimes be the only convenient indicator species.

“Many dragonfly species are habitat-specific and their presence can be used to characterize healthy wetlands of all sorts,” notes Cannings.

Given the importance of these insects to the food-web and as indicators of ecosystem health, what can we do to save our dragonflies?

According to Cannings, hope lies in the insects themselves. Odonata are well suited for long-term monitoring programs because they are large, colourful and diurnal (daytime) creatures that are easily observed, making them excellent candidates for nature interpretation programs and citizen science platforms like inaturalist.ca or bugguide.net.

While conserving our wetlands is key to protecting these aerial acrobats, surveys and monitoring are also important to “broaden our understanding of the changes in habitat and biodiversity resulting from human activity and climate warming,” notes Cannings.

Inspired by insects?

Cannings describes himself as being equally happy waist-deep in a pond, staring down his microscope at a new insect, or drafting the outline of a new paper about his discoveries on his laptop. While mounting societal concerns like climate change, habitat loss and light pollution can occupy his thoughts, he continues to focus on igniting the imagination of the next generation of naturalists.

Here is some advice from Cannings for any aspiring entomologists and insect conservation advocates:

• Be curious and apply yourself. Study, learn and read — lots.
• Volunteer at a museum, university or government research centre.
• Document your findings, write detailed notes and explore platforms like iNaturalist and BugGuide.
• Take part in local habitat enhancement programs and species monitoring efforts.
  Join a local natural history society or entomological society (many have amateur or student programs).
• Practice public speaking and seek out co-op programs to gain experience.