adult ­dragonfly

Theolderversionhasthreebodysegments.Likeallinsects,ithasahead,thorax,andabdomen.Ithassixlegs.Ithastwopairsofwings.Itshugeeyesaresoclosetogetheronthetopofitshead,theytouch.Thecolorsofitsbodyare brilliant.

dragonfly­ nymph

Theyoungerversionalsohasthreebodysegments.Ithassixlegs,too.Butitswingshavenotyetformed.Itseyesaresetfarapart. Andit'snotas colorful.


Thisisthesameanimal,thesouthernhawkerdragonfly.Youarejustseeingitatdifferentpointsinits life.

Lookatthemside-by-side.Theyaredifferentversionsofthesame thing!

InsectBody Parts

head

thorax

abdomen

ChangesAhead

Allinsectsundergometamorphosis.Thisprocessofchangetakesplaceasaninsectnearsadulthood.Morethan80percentofinsectsexperiencecompletemetamorphosis.Thishappensinfourstages:egg,larva,pupa,andadult.Dragonfliesexperienceanincompletemetamorphosis.Thishappensinonlythreestages:egg,nymph, and adult. 


SouthernhawkersareoneofthemostcommondragonfliesinEurope.Theylivenearsmallpondsandwoodlands.Eachdragonflybeginslifeasan egg.


Maleandfemaledragonfliesmateinlatesummerorearlyfall.Thefemalelayshereggs,onebyone,insidethestemsorleavesofawaterplant.Thiskeepsthemsafefrom predators.

Tohatchinthespring,theyoungdragonflyswallowswaterthroughthecasingoftheegg.Theeggthenswells.Asharppointeronthedragonfly’sheadpiercestheegg.Itbursts open.


Aprolarvaemergesandfreesitselffromitscovering.Itentersthewaterandshedsitsskin.Itisnowa nymph.


Nymphsmust molts, orshedtheirskin,anumberoftimesastheygrow.That’sbecausetheirouterlayer,calledanexoskeleton,cannotstretchorgrow.Whentheinsectgetstoobigforitsskin,theskinsplits open.


Asouthernhawkernymph'sbodyisbrownandgreen.Thesecolorsmakethenymphhardertoseein water.

Asouthernhawkernymphmoves underwater.

Deepbreathscausethesplittowiden.Thesouthernhawkerthenshrugsoutoftheoldskin.Nowthedragonflynymphisslightly larger.


Moltingishelpfulinanotherway.Itallowsdamagedtissuetoheal.Missinglimbscanregenerate,orgrowagain.Yet,moltingcanbeadangeroustime,too.Untilthenewexoskeletonhardens,thedragonflyisexposedto predators.

MoreMobile

Adragonflynymphcanzipthroughthewater.Itmovesbysquirtingwateroutofitsbackend.Thispropelsitforward.Thedragonflyneedstomovequicklybecauseitisanactive hunter.


Thenymph’sbodyisbrownandgreen.Thesecolorshelpitblendinwithpondorlakewater.Itishardforeitheritspredatorsorpreytospotit.Yet,thenymphcanseethemquite well.

Atthisstageinitslife,thesouthernhawker’slargeeyesaresetfarapart.Itseyesarealwaysscanningforprey.Thenymphneedstoeatandlooksforinsects,smalltadpoles,and fish.

Asouthernhawkernymph'seyesaresetfar apart.