CatchingPrey

Asanymph,thesouthernhawkerhasaspecialwayofcatchingprey.Itisabletofolditslipbeneathitsheadwhennothunting.Whenitseesprey,thelipshootsforward.Thenitstabsthepreywithsharp spines.


Thelipcanmoveinlessthan
25milliseconds.Oncethepreyisimpaled,thenymphpullsitslowerlipbacktowarditsjaws.Thejawsarestrongandtoughandlinedwithteeth.Theycutthepreyinto pieces.

Asthenympheats,itgrows.Andasitgrows,itmolts.Anymphmaymoltasmanyaseighttimes.Theperiodofgrowthbetweeneachmoltiscalledaninstar.Lifeasanymphislong.Itcanbeaslongasseveral years.

Anymphshootsoutitslowerliptocatch prey.

Oncecaught,thepreyisquicklyeatenbythe nymph.

fish

AFinalChange

Inthefinalstagesofmetamorphosis,thesouthernhawker’slowerlipcontracts.Itcannolongerhuntandeat.Itneedstomoltonelasttime.Itwaitsuntilnightbeforeleavingthewater.Itclimbsupthestemofawater plant.

Theinsectpumpsfluidsintoitsbody.Itstartstoswell.Theexoskeletonsplits.Itthrustsitsbodythroughthisgap.Itsheadandlegsfollow.Thenitslowlypumpsfluidsintothehollowveinsofitsnewwingstoexpand them.

FromLarvatoAdult

Takeacloserlookatthejourneyofa dragonfly:

one

Emerging Nymph

Thelarvaleavesitseggandentersthewaterasa nymph.

two

Instar Stages

Asthenymphgrows,itmolts.Itformsanewexoskeleton.Itwillmoltseveral times.

three

Final Molt

Thenymphleavesthewaterasitsexoskeletonsplitsonelast time.

four

Emerging Dragonfly

Thedragonflyclimbsoutofitsexoskeleton.Itwaitsforitsnewskinto harden.

five

Readyfor Flight

Theadultdragonflyunfurlsitswingsinthesunlight.Thenittakesitsfirst flight.