Molting
Dragonfly
Nymph
Eggs
Life cycle of a Dragonfly.
Name: _______________________ Date: ______________
DIRECTION: Cut and paste the life cycle of a dragonfly in correct order.
Color the pictures.
Pupa
Name:________________________ Date:__________
STAGE:
Direction: Shade the life cycle stage and color the picture.
1
2
3
4
Direction: CIRCLE THE LIFE CYCLE STAGE DEVELOPMENT
Eggs Nymph Molting Adult/dragonfly
LIFE CYCLE STAGE DEVELOPMENT DESCRIPTION
Pupa
Name:________________________ Date:__________
STAGE:
Direction: Shade the life cycle stage and color the picture.
1
2
3
4
Direction: CIRCLE THE LIFE CYCLE STAGE DEVELOPMENT
Eggs Nymph Molting Adult/dragonfly
LIFE CYCLE STAGE DEVELOPMENT DESCRIPTION
Pupa
Name:________________________ Date:__________
STAGE:
Direction: Shade the life cycle stage and color the picture.
1
2
3
4
Direction: CIRCLE THE LIFE CYCLE STAGE DEVELOPMENT
Eggs Nymph Molting Adult/dragonfly
LIFE CYCLE STAGE DEVELOPMENT DESCRIPTION
Pupa
Name:________________________ Date:__________
STAGE:
Direction: Shade the life cycle stage and color the picture.
1
2
3
4
Direction: CIRCLE THE LIFE CYCLE STAGE DEVELOPMENT
Eggs Nymph Molting Adult/dragonfly
LIFE CYCLE STAGE DEVELOPMENT DESCRIPTION
NYMPH
NYMPH
Dragonfly nymphs molt (shed their skin) up to 12 times, depending on species and can spend as long as four years as nymphs. They are aquatic, living in ponds and marshes until emerging to molt for one final time.
EGGS
EGGS
Female dragonflies can lay hundreds of eggs during their adult lives, in hatches over a few days or even weeks. Eggs are laid either into plant material (endophytic eggs) or deposited loosely into water (exophytic eggs). The former are elongated but the latter are rounded and laid in a jelly-like substance which confers some protection.
MOLT
MOLT
Dragonflies do not have a pupal stage but progress to adults through a final larval moult that takes place out of water. After finding a secure support, they redistribute their body fluids - first to push the thorax, head, legs and wings out of the larval skin. There is then a pause of about 30 minutes to allow their legs to harden enough for the next stage when the abdomen is withdrawn. The wings and then the abdomen are expanded and start to harden. This process leaves behind a cast skin, called an exuvia and lasts for three hours.
DRAGONFLY
DRAGONFLY
Newly-emerged adult dragonflies, known as tenerals are a pale green color at first, with only hints of the final adult patterning. Their wings remain very reflective for a couple of days and the flight is weak and fluttery. As the body and wings harden off, they begin hunting for food whenever fine weather permits. They spend about a week depending on the weather, feeding away from water and gradually acquire adult coloration and sexual maturity.
NAME: _________________________ DATE: ____________
________________________________
DIRECTION: Color and label the picture below.
DRAGONFLY LIFE CYCLE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE
NAME: _________________________ DATE: ____________
________________________________
DIRECTION: Color and label the picture below.
DRAGONFLY LIFE CYCLE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE
NAME: _________________________ DATE: ____________
________________________________
DIRECTION: Color and label the picture below.
DRAGONFLY LIFE CYCLE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE
NAME: _________________________ DATE: ____________
DRAGONFLY LIFE CYCLE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE
________________________________
DIRECTION: Color and label the picture below.
Molting
Butterfly
Eggs
Nymph
Life Cycle of a Dragonfly