Introduction to Dragonfly
The dragonfly is a large, colorful, predatory insect that is found generally in or near watery. Over 5,000 known species of dragonflies exist, and fossil evidence suggests that they have been on earth for many years.
A dragonfly is an insect of the order Odonata, Anisoptera infraorder. They have long, thin, colorful bodies, six legs, large eyes, and two pairs of transparent wings that enable them to propel upward, downward, forward, backward and side - to - side while in flight. They are skilled flyers, and tend only to catch prey and eat while flying.
They come in a variety of colors and are considered mainly beneficial due to their ability to combat other nuisance bugs such as mosquitos, termites, gnats, flies and other flying insects in the population.
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Dragonfly Life Cycle Stages
All species of dragonflies have three stages in their life cycle. The embryo, the larva (or nymph), and an adult.
Egg
The dragonfly starts life, like an egg, in or near water. The female dragonfly will often lay her eggs after mating while still holding on to the male, or while the male is guarding her against predators and other males. She will never lay her eggs alone.
Normally, the eggs are dropped directly into the water, on or inside aquatic plants or in the humid ground near the water.
Depending on the species they will typically hatch in one to five weeks. A female in her lifetime can lay several thousand eggs, usually over a few days or weeks in several different batches.
Nymph
Tiny creatures with six legs, wing-sheaths, hinged jaws and the ability to breathe when underwater will emerge from the eggs after the incubation period. This is the dragonfly's longest life stage, and it is important to note here that dragonflies spend most of their lives underwater because of this.
Typically, these larvae will also molt, or shed their skin within a few hours to make way for new growth.
They will also molt to reach full growth as often as necessary, sometimes molting as many as 14 times. Depending on the species and environment, larval development can last anywhere between two months, up to one or two years.
Whether the eggs are laid in cool water where food is scarce, or in an area where the climate is warm and food is abundant, development can be accelerated or slowed down resulting in the possibility of more than one generation per year in certain areas.
Adult
Adulthood is triggered by a major dragonfly event, one which is called Emergence. Unlike butterflies, do not have a coconut stage in the life of a dragonfly and emerge as an adult through a final molting stage outside the water.
The larva which is in the final stages will gather for several days near the edge of the water preparing for this final molt and at this time will begin to learn to breathe air. The trigger for this occurrence is the length of the day and the temperature, and can vary between species.
The dragonfly larva will fly once ready to find vegetation on which to prepare to emerge as an adult. Some may travel up to several meters over dry land to find a suitable area with sufficient support to keep them safe during their final molt into adulthood.
Once this perfect place is found, they start the emerging process by redistributing the fluids in their body first. This is no small feat, and requires them to slowly push their newly developed body out of their larval self 's old shell, leaving enough time between each portion to dry and harden enough for the new body to move forward. This process can take 1 to 3 hours and leaves behind a cast shell of their former selves, called an exuvia.
Newly emerging dragoons are usually very pale in color, and have reflective wings. During this time, they will hunt and prey on other flying insects as frequently as possible, and will spend about a week hunting far from the surface in preparation for maturity.
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Dragonfly Life Cycle Facts
Stages of the dragonfly life cycle includes incomplete metamorphosis where the cocoon stage is not observed.
The free-crawling aquatic larva molds once after the egg is hatched and then begins to hunt voraciously.
This will molt as the larva grows numerous times. The majority of larvae reach maturity within 1 to 3 years
FAQs on Dragonfly Life Cycle
1. What are the main stages in the life cycle of a dragonfly?
The dragonfly life cycle consists of three distinct stages: the egg, the larva (also known as a nymph), and the adult. This type of development is called incomplete metamorphosis because it lacks a pupal stage, unlike butterflies.
2. How does a dragonfly's life cycle begin? Do they lay eggs?
Yes, the dragonfly life cycle begins when a female dragonfly lays eggs, a process known as oviposition. Dragonflies are oviparous and do not give birth to live young. The female typically lays these eggs in or near a source of water, such as a pond or stream, often depositing them on aquatic plants or directly into the water.
3. What is the dragonfly larva or nymph, and where does it live?
The dragonfly larva, or nymph, is the second stage of the life cycle that hatches from the egg. It is a fully aquatic creature, meaning it lives entirely underwater. It breathes through gills located in its rectum and is a formidable predator in its aquatic environment, feeding on tadpoles, mosquito larvae, and small fish.
4. How long does the entire life cycle of a dragonfly take?
The total lifespan of a dragonfly can range from about six months to several years. The vast majority of this time is spent in the underwater larval (nymph) stage, which can last from a few months to as long as five years depending on the species and climate. The final adult stage is much shorter, typically lasting only a few weeks to a couple of months.
5. What happens to dragonflies during the winter?
Most adult dragonflies die as winter approaches. However, the species survives through its hardy aquatic nymphs. These larvae remain active in the water throughout the winter, often living beneath mud, sediment, or even ice. They continue to feed and grow, ready to emerge as adults when the weather warms up in the spring.
6. Why is the dragonfly life cycle considered an example of incomplete metamorphosis?
The dragonfly life cycle is classified as incomplete metamorphosis (or hemimetabolous development) because it only has three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The key distinction is the absence of a pupa (cocoon) stage. The nymph grows by shedding its skin multiple times (a process called moulting) and generally resembles a smaller, wingless version of the adult dragonfly, unlike the complete transformation seen in insects like butterflies (egg, larva, pupa, adult).
7. What are the key differences between a dragonfly nymph and an adult dragonfly?
The primary differences between the nymph and adult stages are related to their environment and anatomy. Key distinctions include:
- Habitat: The nymph is fully aquatic and lives in water, while the adult is terrestrial and aerial, living on land and in the air.
- Respiration: Nymphs breathe through internal gills, while adults breathe air through spiracles on their body.
- Mobility: Nymphs are wingless and move by walking or jet propulsion underwater. Adults have powerful wings for flight.
- Diet: Nymphs prey on aquatic organisms, whereas adults are aerial hunters that catch flying insects like mosquitoes and flies.
8. Is it a myth that dragonflies only live for 24 hours?
Yes, this is a common myth. While the adult flying stage may last for only a few weeks or months, the dragonfly's total life cycle is much longer, often spanning several years. Most of its life is spent as an underwater nymph. This myth likely arose from confusion with other insects like mayflies, which have a similarly long larval life but a very short adult lifespan.
9. What is the importance of the final moult in a dragonfly's life?
The final moult is the most critical transition in a dragonfly's life, marking its transformation from an aquatic nymph to a terrestrial adult. The nymph crawls out of the water onto a plant stem or rock. Its exoskeleton splits open, and the adult dragonfly emerges. During this vulnerable time, it must pump fluid into its wings to expand them and allow them to harden before it can take its first flight.
10. How does a dragonfly's diet change throughout its life cycle?
A dragonfly's diet changes drastically to match its habitat at each major stage. As an aquatic nymph, it is a key predator in freshwater ecosystems, feeding on mosquito larvae, other aquatic insects, tadpoles, and even small fish. After transforming into an adult, it becomes an aerial predator, using its sharp eyesight and incredible flight agility to catch other flying insects such as mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and butterflies.
