Did You Know: Fun Facts About Grassy Waters Preserve

From the City of West Palm Beach:

July 10, 2020

For most visitors, no visit to Grassy Waters feels complete without witnessing the Everglades’ top predator, the alligator. Their ecological importance is undeniable; however, many species are equally sublime and far more prehistoric. While alligators are frequently found in quiet repose, another wetland species is rarely idle. Despite their diminutive size, these winged wonders are ferocious predators and certainly live up the old cliché “big things come in small packages.” Meet Grassy Waters legendary aerial acrobat, the Dragonfly.

Visitors should be comforted in knowing that dragonflies do not sting or bite and are one of nature’s best biological controls of many nuisance insects. Nicknamed the ‘Mosquito Hawk,’ a single dragonfly can eat hundreds of mosquitos per day. Traveling at speeds of upwards of 35 miles per hour they can fly in any direction, including sideways and backward, they can even hover in a single spot for a minute or more.

During any of the four seasons at Grassy Waters Preserve, squadrons of female dragonflies can often be seen dipping their abdomens into the water to release their eggs. Eggs can hatch anywhere within days or months depending on the species

The dragonfly’s presence provides us with a safer and more beautiful environment by decreasing the transmission of disease by controlling mosquito populations and reducing our dependency on pesticides. Dragonflies are highly sensitive to pollution, so they are a natural barometer for measuring good water quality.

Grassy Waters Preserve is located at 8264 Northlake Blvd. in the City of West Palm Beach. Grassy Waters serves as the drinking water supply source for West Palm Beach, which provides water to the Town of Palm Beach and the Town of South Palm Beach. For more information on Grassy Waters Preserve public programs available under the COVID-19 safety guidelines, call (561) 804-4895 (TTY: 800-955-8771) or visit: https://www.wpb.org/government/public-utilities/grassy-waters-preserve/public-program-calendar .

This press release was produced by the City of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.