Childhood Memories - _TNY_6022
The concept of adulthood and childhood does not really apply to dragonflies (as well as many other insects).
After the female lays here eggs in water, they hatch and the nymph then spends several years as an aquatic animal - still as a predator - feeding on just about any smaller animals, including tadpoles.
Then, finally, then larvae crawls up out of the water and the exoskeleton breaks open and the adult dragonfly emerges. The wings are obviously folded up and need to be unfurled and pumped full of fluid before they harden and can be used for flight. The adult phase of its life is then measured in just weeks and during that time it needs to find a mate and reproduce to continue the cycle.
This female black darter/meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae) has just climbed out of the pale exuviae at the top and is sitting here, waiting for her new wings to be able to take her out into a brand new world.
Childhood Memories - _TNY_6022
The concept of adulthood and childhood does not really apply to dragonflies (as well as many other insects).
After the female lays here eggs in water, they hatch and the nymph then spends several years as an aquatic animal - still as a predator - feeding on just about any smaller animals, including tadpoles.
Then, finally, then larvae crawls up out of the water and the exoskeleton breaks open and the adult dragonfly emerges. The wings are obviously folded up and need to be unfurled and pumped full of fluid before they harden and can be used for flight. The adult phase of its life is then measured in just weeks and during that time it needs to find a mate and reproduce to continue the cycle.
This female black darter/meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae) has just climbed out of the pale exuviae at the top and is sitting here, waiting for her new wings to be able to take her out into a brand new world.