Damselfly Life Cycle

Egg Stage

• Immediately after mating, damselfly females lay their eggs on areas of submerged vegetation. The eggs are cylindrical and measure about 1mm long. The eggs hatch within one to three weeks, depending on the species.

Nymph Stage

• Newly hatched damselflies are called nymphs. The nymph has three fin-like gills that project from its abdomen, allowing it to breath under water. In order to grow, the nymph molts five to 12 times, becoming larger in size and darker in color. It feeds mainly on other aquatic insects, grabbing them with its labium, which is similar to a lower jaw

Incomplete Metamorphosis

• Unlike the butterfly and other insects that undergo a metamorphosis, the damselfly does not have a larva or pupa stage. Because they lack a pupa stage, they are said to be hemimetabolous, which means that they undergo an "incomplete" metamorphosis.

  Depending on the species, it takes the damselfly nymph two months to three years to reach its final molting stage. Once fully grown it will swim toward the shore and crawl onto vegetation. While clinging to the vegetation, its nymphal skin breaks along the wing case. The adult damselfly crawls out through the back and instantly pumps body fluids into its abdomen and wings. This causes it to lengthen and enables it to fly.

The Adult Damselfly

• Adult damselflies stay close to shallow water, where food is plentiful. Most damselfly species will become sexually mature within a few days after their metamorphosis. The damselfly will then return to the water's vegetation to mate. On average, a female damselfly may lay eggs one to three times during her lifetime.

Misconceptions

• Damselflies are often mistaken for dragonflies, which are also in the order Odonata. However, unlike dragonflies, damselflies can fold their closed wings over their backs, making them parallel to their bodies. They are also smaller than dragonflies and have narrower and finer features.

  Many people confuse the life cycle of a damselfly with a mayfly, expecting them to live for only a few days in their adult stage. However, the adult damselfly usually lives several weeks to several months, depending on the species.