Will there be dragonflies here in the future?
A local expert says the proposal is rather strange.
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Saskatchewan Natural Resources and Built Environment Research Manager David Halstead says dragonflies have been around for over 300 million years and are not going extinct. However, their numbers have declined recently due to extreme heat and drought in Saskatchewan.
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“Last year we had drought conditions, which caused the water (in the temporary ponds) to dry up. This wreaks havoc on the dragonflies, who have a very short developmental time in these lakes.”
Halsted says they are an indicator insect as well, which is also important to the well-being of their immediate environment.
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“Dragonflies are excellent macroecological indicators. We should be able to use them to monitor the changes going on in the environment and the climate,” Halsted said. “They’re just a great organism, they survived the extinction of the dinosaurs. Climate change won’t. They are still here.
There are between 50 and 70 species of dragonflies in Saskatchewan.
He also adds that one of their main food sources has been abundant this year due to the decline in numbers.
“One of their main food sources is mosquitoes, and there’s certainly an excess of them this year compared to last year,” Halstead said.
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