Larvae

Dragonfly larvae live in water. In this way, the larva and imago develop in two different feeding environments and do not compete with each other. In order to grow, larvae go through a series of stages or stadia and have to moult each time. The number of larval stages is between 8 and 17 depending on species but can also vary by five moulting stages within a species. Depending on latitude, altitude and temperature regime, several generations of dragonflies may hatch each year or it may take several years for the next generation to appear. In fishponds, as above, dragonflies have a hard time. The fish feed on them and so the larvae show an adapted behaviour in that they perform all movements more slowly and also take longer to develop. The larvae ensure the success of the flying adult dragonflies by feeding intensively. The heavier a larva becomes, the larger it becomes as a flying insect.