Halloween pennant dragonfly, (Celithemis eponina) Photo by: Mary Wolfe (Flickr) 

Halloween pennant dragonflies, (Celithemis eponina), the orange and black banded terror of the sky, are voracious predators that snatch unsuspecting gnats, flies, mosquitos, or other flying insects right out of the sky.  Some of the best master hunters in the insect world, these dragonflies are great at pest control. Halloween pennants and other dragonflies are born vicious, beginning life in the water as an aquatic nymph (i.e., juvenile). They wait in the depths of the water and ambush anything that fits in their hinged lower jaw. Their prey includes tadpoles, snails, little fish, other young dragonflies, and insects including mosquitos and their larvae.

Although named for the fall holiday, the Halloween pennant is most easily observed in summer. It breeds in marshy ponds and wetlands. It typically hunts in fields and high saltmarsh where it can often be seen perched on the tip of a grass blade, watching for prey. 

Want to welcome these stunning creatures into your garden? Install a small pond allowing them to breed, and make sure to include native aquatic plants. No pond? No problem. Most dragonflies can fly up to a mile from water, so you can still attract them by planting a diverse mix of native plants. This will draw in the insects that the Halloween pennant dragonflies love to feast on or dinner. 

For more information on native plants, check out our Native Seedlings of the Delaware Estuary Guide!

Curious about the health of plants and animals in the Delaware Estuary and the challenges they face? Dive into our latest State of the Estuary report to explore featured species and learn how climate, habitat changes, and human impacts are shaping their future.