Once the eggs have hatched the first stage in their lifestyle can begin. At this stage, it is an aquatic larvae, also called 'nymph'. This stage will generally last between one and three years, during which time the larvae will act as a voracious predator of other insect larvae, tadpole and even small fish.
Unlike most of the other species of insect, including moths and butterflies that go through a pupal stage before emerging as adults the dragonflies however do not pupate. Instead of pupating the larval form or nymph will come out from its aquatic environment and hang from the bank or a stem. This position makes it easier for the larvae to be exposed to the pleasant warmth of the sunshine and undergo metamorphosis into an adult dragonfly.
Once the larva's transformation is complete, the newly emerged adult will have to wait several hours before its wings dry out and become strong enough to fly. The dragonfly at this stage is called a teneral which is a Latin word meaning tender or soft or delicate.
This is a very critical period in the life cycle of the dragonfly. The tenerals are generally weak and they cannot fly very well. This makes them easily exposed to predators, which can also be dragonfly larvae themselves. Many more of them die when they are knocked down by strong winds or by boats.
Once the adult becomes capable of flying, it becomes once more a voracious predator, showing off its wonderful self defense mechanisms. Both female and male dragonflies only live two to four months as adults before dying.
From egg to adult, a dragonfly can live for five years before dying. Dragonflies in tropical regions don't live as long as dragonflies in temperate regions. The reason? Dragonflies in temperate regions overwinter as eggs or nymphs for several years before finally emerging as adults. Dragonflies as nymphs and adults are voracious predators eating anything they can catch, including adult and larval mosquitoes. This is why any permanent water feature will attract dragonflies.
To encourage dragonflies to lay eggs in your pond, grow reeds and lilies that emerge from the water to give the female a place to perch while laying her eggs. Remember fish can eat dragonfly nymphs and eggs. Sectioning off part of the pond from fish will give nymphs a safe place to mature. This article was written by a professional writer, copy edited and fact checked through a multi-point auditing system, in efforts to ensure our readers only receive the best information.
To submit your questions or ideas, or to simply learn more, see our about us page: link below. Updated April 19, Inchworm Life Cycle. How Does a Catfish Reproduce? Life Cycle of Bats. Salamanders' Natural Habitat. The Penguins of the Tundra Biome. The Life Cycle of the Stonefly. Species living in bottom sediments have relatively poor eyesight, but instead use their hairs, long legs and antennae to sense prey.
By contrast, hawkers have large eyes and hunt by sight amongst plants nearer the surface. Dragonflies undergo incomplete metamorphosis ; unlike other winged insects, such as butterflies, dragonflies do not have a pupal stage and transition straight from a larva to an adult. This transition, the final larval moult, takes place out of water. This metamorphosis is triggered by day length and temperature, and is synchronised in some species, such as Emperor Dragonfly.
The final-stage larvae sit in shallow water, near the margins, for several days, getting ready for their final moult and starting to breathe air. Most species leave the water during the morning, but hawkers do so under cover of darkness. Larvae climb up emergent vegetation, although some may walk several metres over dry land before finding somewhere suitable to emerge.
After finding a secure support, they redistribute their body fluids, pushing the thorax, head, legs and wings out of the larval skin. There is then a pause of about 30 minutes to allow their legs to harden enough for the next stage, when the abdomen is withdrawn. The wings, and then the abdomen, are expanded and start to harden. This process leaves behind a cast skin, called an exuvia, and the whole process lasts between one hour Damselflies to three hours Dragonflies. At such times, dragonflies are especially vulnerable to predation by birds, such as the Hobby.
Other hazards include rainfall, which can damage soft tissue during emergence. Tenerals are newly-emerged adult dragonflies that are weak in flight and pale in colouration. As the body and wings harden off they begin hunting for food whenever fine weather permits.
They spend about a week feeding away from water and gradually acquire adult colouration and sexual maturity. When mature, adults move back to the water to breed. The males of some species are territorial and battle constantly to obtain and defend a suitable breeding sites.
They investigate any male intruders, as well as females, which they will try to seize and mate with.
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