From nymph to adult

Last Sunday as I sat at the edge of a pond, I spotted this dragonfly that had just emerged from its final nymph stage.

Dragonfly nymphs can live in water for several months to as long as five years. Dragonfly nymphs catch and eat aquatic insects and invertebrates, such as tadpoles. They are dark brown, ugly water creatures that are preyed upon by fish.

The dragonfly lives most of its life as a nymph, molting several times under water.

Climbing out of the water, the nymph will find a vertical stick or dead weed to hold onto as it molts for the final time.

Its skin will split open on its back just behind the head, and it will leave the old shell of a skin and climb out as a young adult dragonfly.

Its wings will take several minutes to an hour to dry before it can fly away. At this time, it is easy prey for spiders, birds or snakes.

An adult dragonfly normally will live no longer than a few months.

During that time, it is an insect with great eyesight and flying ability. It will catch and eat flying insects, such as gnats and mosquitoes.

In this photo, you can see both the young adult dragonfly and the nymph skin shell that it vacated.