Blue dasher dragonfly emerging!

This is a picture of a blue dasher nymph that is going through metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is a change in form from one stage to the next in the life of an organism, as from the caterpillar to the pupa and from the pupa to the adult butterfly. A dragonfly lives the first part of its life in the water. When in this stage it is called a nymph. The nymph breathes through gills similar to a fish. It is quite the predator and will eat almost any living thing it can get its jaws on!
When the nymph is big enough, it climbs out of the water (as it has done here,) its exoskeleton breaks open and out emerges the strange-looking adult dragonfly! Watch for me to post another dragonfly photo! PS-I did not take the picture. John is the impressive photographer here! 🙂

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