The 60 million-year-old tale: Our Nuwejaars dragonfly pursuit

Around 60 million years ago, something pretty amazing happened in the Cape: dragonflies started making themselves at home in our fynbos and our wetlands. 

In the lifespan of dragonfly species, this is a pretty recent occurrence, given that many of these species are some 300 million years old.

In the Nuwejaars wetlands, dragonflies play the crucial role they’re supposed to play - catching and eating pesky mosquitos, doing their part to keep these and other insect numbers in check.

But dragonflies can only thrive where wetlands and waterscapes can support them. Wetlands should ideally be healthy, or at least be resilient, to provide a sanctuary for dragonflies. Bear in mind that dragonflies spend up to two years underwater in larval state (some even longer). And during this time, are likely to eat tadpoles and even fish. Healthy waters therefore ensure their survival from a young age.

So when wetlands are polluted or degraded, where invasive alien species have taken over, or where sedimentation has occurred, it impacts not only on the quality of the water, but also on a healthy population of dragonflies.

That’s why dragonflies and damselflies (and other sensitive species) are considered an indicator species for good water quality. 

In January 2021, dragonfly and damselfly expert, Corrie du Toit, visited some of the wetlands of the Nuwejaars – in particular those wetlands to be expanded and rehabilitated in a project supported by WWF South Africa. During the dragonfly and damselfly pursuit, the team found 15 species, 11 of which were first-time records in our district.