Life Cycle 1

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Dragonflies spend the early part of their lives in water, mainly but not exclusively still water. Once they reach adulthood they are no longer restricted to the local habitat and may be seen some distance from the water on which they were so dependent. They must however return to breed.

The British dragonfly group comprises about 45 species. The fall into to two groups:

• ZYGOPTERA – (similar wings) Damsel Flies
• ANISOPTERA – (unequal wings) Dragonflies

 

Here is an ideal Dragonfly pond

Their lifecycles are generally similar in that they spend in some cases a significant period of time as nymphs in water preying on the surrounding fauna.

Lets take a look at how the dragonflies mate.

Before mating takes place the male transfers sperm to special organs on segments 2 and 3. He then sets off in search of a mate. Once located, he grasps her by the neck with a special pair of claspers on the end of hisabdomen. She will then curve her body upwards until she touches the males reproductive organs and collects the sperm.

In some species the male and female will fly together in tandem whilst the female deposits the fertilized eggs. This is sometimes known as ‘coupling’.

The eggs are laid under water either on the surface of plants or in the plant tissue depending on the species.

The young dragonflies are called ‘nymphs’ and breathe with gills that are called ‘tracheal gills’. The gills of the damsel fly are external and those of the dragonfly, internal.

All dragonfly nymphs, like adults, are carnivorous. Their lower lip is modified

Lush bankside vegetation provides an ideal hunting ground for adults

in to a structure called a ‘labium’.  hunting, this structure extends by a hinge in the middle enabling the nymph to grab its prey with fearsome jaws which are at the tip. The victim is then drawn in the nymphs’ mouth to be eaten alive!This structure is also known as a ‘mask’.

During the nymphs life the only noticeable change is the development of the wings and an enlargement of the eyes.

When the nymph is about to change to an adult is climbs a plant stem and after a short rest the skin splits and the adult begins to emerge. It will crawl free of the skin shell and slowly the abdomen and wings will expand. This usually happens early in the morning giving the young adult chance to warm up in the early morning sun before it flies off.

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