![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_september_october_2020/changes_ahead_and_more_mobile/836055/CW64KP.480_0_1.jpg)
adultdragonfly
Theolderversionhasthreebodyparts.Ithassixlegs.Ithastwopairsofwings.Itseyesareclosetogether.Itsbodyhasbright colors.
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_september_october_2020/changes_ahead_and_more_mobile/836056/Minden_90208308.480_0_1.jpg)
dragonflynymph
Theyoungerversionhasthesamenumberofbodypartsandlegs.Itdoesn'thavewingsyet.Itseyesarefarapart.It'sless colorful.
Thisisthesameanimal.Itisthesouthernhawkerdragonfly.Youarejustseeingitatdifferentpointsofits life.
Lookat them
side-by-side.Theyaredifferentversionsofthesame thing!
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_september_october_2020/changes_ahead_and_more_mobile/836057/dragonfly.512_0_1.png)
head
InsectBody Parts
thorax
abdomen
ChangesAhead
Allinsectsgothroughamajorchangeinform.It'scalledmetamorphosis.Mostinsectshaveacompletemetamorphosis.Theirbodiesmovethroughfourstages.Theyareegg,larva,pupa,andadult.Dragonflieshaveanincompletemetamorphosis. Theirbodiesonlygothroughthreestages.Theyareegg,nymph,and adult.
Adragonflyhatchesfromanegg.Itmolts,orshedsitskin,inthewater.Itisnowa nymph.
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_september_october_2020/changes_ahead_and_more_mobile/836059/NGX0920_EE_12.480_0_1.jpg)
Thisnymph'sbodyisbrownand green.
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_september_october_2020/changes_ahead_and_more_mobile/836065/.Nymph_Walking___Draft_1.mp4.480_0_1.jpg)
Asouthernhawkernymphmoves underwater.
MoreMobile
Anymphmustmoltmanytimes.That'sbecauseitsouterlayercannotgrow.It'scalledanexoskeleton.Whenthisinsectgetstoobig,itsskinsplitsopen.Anewskinis underneath.
Anymphzipsthroughthewater.Itsbodyisbrownandgreen.Itblendsinwithpondorlakewater.It'shardtospot.Itslargeeyeslookforprey.Iteatsinsectsandsmall fish.
Thisnymph'seyesaresetfar apart.
![](/nationalgeographic/pioneer_september_october_2020/changes_ahead_and_more_mobile/980374/cloudinary_2_jane_20goodall_20id_20chimps.960_0_1.jpg)