Rise of the Dragonflies
Although commonly seen zooming across the sky, life for dragonflies begins underwater. Laid beneath the water’s surface, they start as eggs and hatch into aquatic-dwelling nymphs. The wingless, dull-colored larvae emerge and blend into their surroundings as they crawl around murky waters. Some are active predators, stalking prey, while others wait in hiding for their next meal to get close. Regardless of their feeding strategy, all nymphs have a hinged jaw usually tucked beneath the head, ready to swiftly strike anything from mosquito larvae to tiny crustaceans in a split second.
As temperatures rise in late spring and summer, baby dragonflies crawl out of the water onto rocks or stems and transform remarkably. Their skin dries, splits, and sheds one last time, ending their aquatic phase as they take to the sky. With four mighty wings, they can perform incredible twists and turns, from flying backward to hovering in mid-air and reaching up to 30 miles per hour. They eat hundreds of mosquitoes daily, making them top-notch mosquito controllers in nature. The next time you explore the outdoors, watch for these agile insects darting across lakes, ponds, creeks, and meadows, and see them in action!
