My goldfish pond

[addy1]

Good to hear Keith.

We don't have many skeeters since the pond install, the frogs, dragon flies, birds take care of any that dare hatch.

 

[CountryEscape]

I had huge ones trying to find my skin last weekend. Not many frogs in my koi pond right now, have no idea why. Wondering if it has to do with what may be lurking below! Saw a large dragonfly 2 days ago, though, and know they have laid eggs, as I found quite a few nymphs when I was cleaning out the bog. Hoping they lay lots more eggs!

 

[j.w]

Glad your fish are doing well Keith.
This was clinging to one of my Iris leaves. Is this a dragonfly nymph?

 

[callingcolleen1]

That is either a dragon or damsel fly larva nymph for sure, many different species live all over the world. When they are ready to metamormphose they climb up out of the water. Some large dragonflies take up to 5 years living in your pond in the larva nymph stage before they change into an adult. I had this happen in my pond, one summer night in june a while back, I witnessed the transformation and metamorphic marvel of this magnificent bug! Lucky you!

 

[j.w]

He's still there in the same exact spot! Don't they need to eat at this stage or move about?

 

[icsd71]

Should be a dragon fly nymph. Usually they are large up to and over an inch around here. Some are such verasious eaters that they have been known to eat minnows,small fish and tadpoles. Also eats other water bugs as well. Overall they are reall cool to watch. If it is still there it could be changing. Make sure you watch because it is very neat!

 

[j.w]

I think I could see tiny wings forming or coming unglued............however it works,lol and I just checked and it's still there.

 

[addy1]

Mine hung there for awhile before it finally popped out and became a dragon fly. Keep an eye on it jw, it is really neat to watch.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Yes, watch it you can still see it. They bust threw their body shell, emerge out, unfold their wings, and will remain a while there, drying their wings. Its quite nice to see. I try not to disturb my pond too much, just want to let all these wonderful bugs live. Did you know that one dragon fly can eat up to 1000 mosquitoes everyday! They will also eat baby goldfish. Its OK cause so do other goldfish, and even snails eat the eggs, but it helps keep the fish from overpopulating your pond too, so its all good

 

[addy1]

They are fascinating, catch flies, bees in the air, grabbing them with their legs.

 

[CountryEscape]

I watched the damsel flies in my basement last winter, but was so sad there was no food for them. Brought the water inside for the small koi, and then noticed the nymphs. The dragonfly nymphs are like someone said, around an inch or more in size. The damselfly nymphs are more like 1/2" long. The damsels wings were very short at first, then just kept stretching and stretching until full length, or maybe I just didn't watch and they unfolded. LOL Show us pics of it, JW, if you get to experience the transformation. Has anyone ever taken pics of the whole transformation? That would be a cool thread to see!

 

[j.w]

If it's still around I will take pix of it changing.

 

[sissy]

gnome butt to ugly bug lmao

 

[j.w]

You have too much coffee this morning sissy, ha, ha ,ha!

 

[CometKeith]

So I shouldn't net out the green muck floating on the water because it might have eggs or larvae of damsel or dragon flies? I just netted out some the other day and who knows what was mixed in with it. It looked like primordial soup. I had a blue damsel fly last year, but I think a bird ate it.