Instead of pupating the larval form or nymph will come out from its aquatic environment and hang from the bank or a stem. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'dragonfly_site_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',341,'0','0'])); The lifespan of a dragonfly is found to consist of two-stages. [2] [edit] Vision. This may make it seem like the dragonfly has a relatively short life, but this isn’t the case. The small damselflies live for a couple of weeks as free-flying adults. To succeed in passing on his DNA, a male dragonfly must be able to distinguish females of his own species from all the other Odonates flying around. Check out our dragonfly life cycle article for more information. In both cases, the adult dragonflies usually live about seven months on average. How long do Dragonflies live? Their bodies are long and slender and they have a short antennae. After breeding the female dragonfly will lay her eggs on or near water or in a place that will fill with water. Dragonfly nymphs typically live underwater, feeding on invertebrates and even tadpoles and small fish. __ez.queue.addFile('jellyfish.php', '/porpoiseant/jellyfish.webp?a=a&cb=23&shcb=34', false, [], true, false, false, false); [edit] Camouflage There are over 5000 species of dragonflies that differ from each other by size, type of diet and habitat. Dragonfly larvae, or nymphs, live underwater and scoot through the water by shooting a jet of water out their rectum, like tiny torpedoes. Adult dragonflies only live about two months. They will also eat bees, butterflies, and even other dragonflies. The Dragonfly Life Span ••• lkpro/iStock/Getty Images. Much of a dragonfly's life is spent underwater as a larva. From egg to adult, a dragonfly can live for five years before dying. Dragonflies and damselflies are one species that lived around 250 million years ago was the largest insect known to exist and had a wingspan of over 70 cm. Most of the life cycle of a dragonfly is lived out in the nymph stage and you don’t see them at all, unless you are swimming underwater in a lake or pond with your eyes opened, of course. Dragonfly, any of a group of roughly 3,000 species of aerial predatory insects most commonly found near freshwater throughout most of the world. They can be found on all continents except on the Antarctica. It hasn’t grown its wings yet and has what looks like a crusty hump hanging onto its back. Female dragonflies deposit their eggs on the water's surface, or in some cases, insert them into aquatic plants or moss. Meganeura is a genus of extinct insects from the Late Carboniferous (approximately 300 million years ago), which resembled and are related to the present-day dragonflies and damselflies.With wingspans ranging from 65 cm (25.6 in) to over 70 cm (28 in), M. monyi is one of the largest-known flying insect species. Dragonflies have excellent vision. How long do they live? [edit] Camouflage Their young are aquatic, and they require water to complete their life cycle. Once the dragonfly leaves the exuvia it is a full grown dragonfly. behavior, species lists, information about Though the dragonflies themselves are predators, they must be very careful of predators like birds, lizards, frogs, fish etc. Most dragonflies don’t die of old age but are caught by predators. Print a Dragonfly Life Cycle Coloring Page. It depends what you mean. This makes them easily exposed to predators, which can also be dragonfly larvae themselves. They live just long enough to mature and reproduce. Even if they do survive, they still don't live much longer than a few months. There are more than 5000 species of dragonflies that exist today. Here’s There are many people who believe that these insects live only for a day. Adults live only about a month, hunting flies, mosquitos, and midges. They may live longer when the weather is dry and warm. Nymphs feed on a range of freshwater invertebrates and larger ones can prey on tadpoles and small fish. Once the nymph is fully grown, and the weather is right, it will complete the metamorphosis into a dragonfly by crawling out of the water up the stem of a plant. A dragonfly has a life span of more than a year, but very little of that life is actually as an adult dragonfly. [2] [edit] Vision. Many dragonflies will be caught by predators before this and if they aren’t, they will only live for a few months before dieing. However, in the short and sometimes cold weather, adults will not live for longer than several weeks. Their bodies are long and slender and they have a short antennae. In this case for a multi-million-dollar history of dragonflies have not changed. Each dragonfly can consume up to 100s of mosquitoes per day! If they do survive, they still don’t live much longer than a maximum of two months. What attracts dragonflies to my yard? Where do Dragonflies Live? 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