How Are Dragonflies Born?

Dragonflies are beautiful, multi-colored insects that live near bodies of water. They are beneficial to humans because they feed on mosquitoes and other small insects. The dragonfly has a three-part life cycle and spends much of its time as a nymph underwater before growing into an adult.

  1. Egg-Laying

    • The female dragonfly lays its eggs on a body of water or plants that grow near the water.

    Hatching

    • After approximately two weeks, the eggs hatch into larvae, also called nymphs.

    Nymph Life

    • Dragonflies can stay in the nymph stage from to three to five years. While in this stage, they live underwater and feed on smaller insects.

    Dragonfly Life

    • At the end of the nymph stage, the dragonfly emerges from the water to molt. Molting can take a few hours as the newly formed dragonfly sheds its outer shell. The lifespan of the dragonfly after it has molted is around four months.