Dragonfly Sanctuary Park トンボ自然公園

Many species of dragonflies and damselflies live in the park, from Japan’s largest dragonfly to the smallest. The oniyanma (Anotogaster sieboldii), the largest dragonfly in Japan, has a body length of around 10 centimeters. The orange-tailed midget (Agriocnemis femina oryzae) is one of the country’s smallest at around 2 centimeters long and is characterized by powdery white markings on the head and thorax of the mature male.

The butterfly dragonfly or cho-tonbo (Rhyothemis fuliginosa) is notable for its large, iridescent blue wings. At first glance, it appears to flutter like a butterfly. These distinctive dragonflies skim across the ponds and fly around the park in summer. If the timing is right, visitors may see dragonflies and damselflies laying their eggs around the ponds, streams, and the rice paddy.

The rice paddy is a good example of ecologically friendly agriculture. The dragonflies feed off smaller insects, reducing the need for pesticides in the rice paddy. Some species of dragonfly are highly sensitive to environmental factors such as water quality and humidity. Visitors to the park can see the importance of dragonflies as natural sentinels of environmental change and the role they can play in maintaining freshwater biodiversity.