CatchingPrey
Asanymph,thesouthernhawkerhasaspecialwayofcatchingprey.Itfoldsitslipbeneathitsheadwhenit’snothunting.Whenitseesprey,thelipshootsforward.Theinsectstabsthepreywiththesharpspinesonthe lip.
Next,thenymphpullsitslowerlipbacktowarditsjaws.Thejawsarestrongandtoughandlinedwithteeth.Theycutthepreyinto pieces.
Asthenympheats,itgrows.Asitgrows,itmolts.Anymphmaymoltasmanyaseighttimes.Thetimebetweeneachmoltiscalledaninstar.Lifeasanymphislong.Itcanlastseveral years.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_september_october_2020/catching_prey_and_a_final_change_and_from_larva_to_adult/841312/.Nymph_Eating___Draft_1.mp4.480_0_1.jpg)
Anymphshootsoutitslowerliptocatch prey.
fish
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_september_october_2020/catching_prey_and_a_final_change_and_from_larva_to_adult/841296/bug_fish.480_0_1.jpg)
Oncecaught,
thepreyisquickly eatenbythe nymph.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_september_october_2020/catching_prey_and_a_final_change_and_from_larva_to_adult/841297/Darner_dragonfly_nymph_Aeshnidae_47_2.128_0_1.png)
AFinalChange
Inthelaststagesofmetamorphosis,thesouthernhawkercannolongerhuntandeat.Itneedstomoltonelasttime.Itwaitsuntilnight.Itclimbsupthestemofawater plant.
Theinsectpumpsfluidsintoitsbody.Theexoskeletonsplits.Itpushesitsbodythroughthisgap.Itsheadandlegsfollow.Thenitpumpsfluidsintoitsnewwingstoexpand them.
FromLarvatoAdult
Takeacloserlookatthejourneyofa dragonfly:
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_september_october_2020/catching_prey_and_a_final_change_and_from_larva_to_adult/841300/Dragonfly_Lifecycle_200320.800_0_1.png)
Emerging Nymph
Thelarvaleavesitseggandentersthewaterasa nymph.
Instar Stages
Asthenymphgrows,itmoltsandformsanewexoskeleton.Itwillmolt
several times.
Final Molt
Thenymphleavesthewaterasitsexoskeletonsplitsonelast time.
Emerging Dragonfly
Thedragonflyclimbsoutofitsexoskeleton.Itwaitsforitsnewskinto harden.
Readyfor Flight
Theadultdragonflyopensitswingsinthesunlight.Thenittakesitsfirst flight.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_september_october_2020/catching_prey_and_a_final_change_and_from_larva_to_adult/980391/cloudinary_2_jane_20goodall_20id_20chimps.960_0_1.jpg)