CatchingPrey

Asanymph,thesouthernhawkerhasaspecialwayofcatchingprey.Itfoldsitslipbeneathitsheadwhenit’snothunting.Whenitseesprey,thelipshootsforward.Theinsectstabsthepreywiththesharpspinesonthe lip.


Next,thenymphpullsitslowerlipbacktowarditsjaws.Thejawsarestrongandtoughandlinedwithteeth.Theycutthepreyinto pieces.

Asthenympheats,itgrows.Asitgrows,itmolts.Anymphmaymoltasmanyaseighttimes.Thetimebetweeneachmoltiscalledaninstar.Lifeasanymphislong.Itcanlastseveral years.

Anymphshootsoutitslowerliptocatch prey.

fish

Oncecaught,
thepreyisquickly eatenbythe nymph.

AFinalChange

Inthelaststagesofmetamorphosis,thesouthernhawkercannolongerhuntandeat.Itneedstomoltonelasttime.Itwaitsuntilnight.Itclimbsupthestemofawater plant.


Theinsectpumpsfluidsintoitsbody.Theexoskeletonsplits.Itpushesitsbodythroughthisgap.Itsheadandlegsfollow.Thenitpumpsfluidsintoitsnewwingstoexpand them.

FromLarvatoAdult

Takeacloserlookatthejourneyofa dragonfly:

1

Emerging Nymph

Thelarvaleavesitseggandentersthewaterasa nymph.

2

Instar Stages

Asthenymphgrows,itmoltsandformsanewexoskeleton.Itwillmolt
several times.

3

Final Molt

Thenymphleavesthewaterasitsexoskeletonsplitsonelast time.

4

Emerging Dragonfly

Thedragonflyclimbsoutofitsexoskeleton.Itwaitsforitsnewskinto harden.

5

Readyfor Flight

Theadultdragonflyopensitswingsinthesunlight.Thenittakesitsfirst flight.