The Life of Dragonflies

Dragonflies are among the most colorful insects to be found in nature, with their many species covering every color of the rainbow. There are over 5,500 known species of dragonflies, with more being discovered every year. The typical life cycle of a dragonfly spans about seven years and many color changes. Dragonflies can be found in almost any climate around the world. The one exception is the extremely frigid regions of the North and South Poles.

The life of dragonflies: The early years

Dragonflies start their life by being born underwater and feeding on smaller insects in the water. During this stage of their life cycle, which lasts approximately 1-3 years, a dragonfly can shed its skin as many as ten times. This molting process is vital to their continued growth. After they leave their initial water environment, they do not resemble the common image of a dragonfly. They start off as a white or brown color and develop their color through molting later in life.

The life of dragonflies: Coloration

The color pattern of a dragonfly varies based on its sex. Throughout its life cycle, a dragonfly will undergo several color changes, but they will remain in the same spectrum of colors. For instance, a male dragonfly may start off as a light blue color and will end his life as a deep, dark blue or even purple. Besides its genetic disposition, the color pattern of a dragonfly may be influenced by the temperature in its environment.

The life of dragonflies: Eyesight

The eyes of a dragonfly are far larger than those of other insects, comprising most of their small body. Most species of insects only have around 24 hexagonal units in each eye, while a dragonfly has more than 20,000. This enhanced sight helps the dragonfly capture prey while flying through the air.

The life of dragonflies: Thermoregulation

Another thing that sets the dragonfly apart from other types of insects is their ability to regulate their own body temperature. There are air sacs inside the thorax of a dragonfly that allows it to thermoregulate itself. The dragonfly can also shift its posture to change its core temperature. If it gets too warm, it can raise up into a vertical position that will reduce its sunlight exposure. The dragonfly can shift between gliding or actively flapping its wings for flight in order to minimize the amount of heat produced by its metabolism. If a dragonfly needs to warm itself up, it will move its wings faster to generate more heat.