Search results
Jan 30, 2023 · Dragonfly Larvae. Dragonflies live in streams, wetlands, lakes, and other water bodies. We usually see adult dragonflies' shimmering wings and brightly-colored bodies zoom across the water’s surface. But just below the surface, on rocks, plants, and in the mud, are the juvenile dragonfly larvae.
Dragonfly larvae have a unique way of catching their prey. Imagine your lower jaw is flexible and extendable, and is equipped with fearsome hooks and sharp teeth. When a prey swims past, this lower jaw will shoot out with lightning speed to capture and retrieve it for consumption.
- mdc.mo.gov
- › Discover Nature
- › Field Guide
Dragonfly larvae (nymphs) are aquatic, usually drab, with 6 legs, large eyes, and small wing buds on the back of the thorax. Gills are located inside the rectum (unlike those of damselflies, which extend from the hind end like 3 leaflike tails).
All dragonfly larvae have six legs (as do adults), wing-sheaths, an extendable hinged jaw (labium) that can shoot out in an instant and catch prey. Prey includes insect larvae, crustaceans, worms, snails, leeches, tadpoles and small fish.
Apr 17, 2024 · Dragonflies begin their life cycle as eggs, which are typically laid in or near water. The specific location varies, but common sites include submerged plants or nearby soil. The eggs then hatch into aquatic larvae, also known as nymphs.
Mar 8, 2022 · Once the dragonfly eggs hatch, the life cycle of a dragonfly larva begins as a nymph. A nymph looks like a little alien creature. It hasn’t grown its wings yet and has what looks like a crusty hump hanging onto its back.
May 16, 2024 · Different species of dragonfly larvae can be described as sprawlers, burrowers, hiders, or claspers. Their shape, metabolism, and respiration differ concordantly with the microhabitat they occupy. Larvae crawl from eggs laid in or near water.
The larva ranges in size from 13 to 68 mm when mature and molts (sheds its skin) 10 to 15 times before becoming an adult. The mature larva climbs onto a solid surface and sheds it skin to emerge as an adult. General features of a dragonfly larva are shown in the photographs on this page.
All dragonfly larvae have six legs (as do adults), wing-sheaths, an extendable hinged jaw (labium) that can shoot out in an instant and catch prey. Prey includes insect larvae, crustaceans, worms, snails, leeches, tadpoles and small fish.
Mar 8, 2022 · The dragonfly larvae are aquatic in nature, and are found under the water in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands. They mostly prefer the areas where the water is still or slowly moving. They stick to the bottom parts of wood or rock submerged in the water.
