Our First Dragonfly!

 

This beautiful, twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella) emerged in our classroom on April 29! If you look closely, you can see the shell/instar/exoskeleton of the nymph. Dragonflies prefer to emerge at night. The previously aquatic nymph (also called a naiad) climbs out of the water and finds a safe place. It then goes through the final stage of its incomplete metamorphosis. The nymph’s exoskeleton will split and the adult dragonfly will begin to emerge. John and I observed emerging blue dasher dragonflies last summer in our pond. It can take from a few minutes up to a few hours for this process to be complete! After the dragonfly emerges, it will cling to the shell of the nymph and allow its wings to dry. After a few hours, the dragonfly’s wings are dry and it can fly away!

Malachi and I released our skimmer at the swamp. I hope she is doing well and is eating many mosquitoes!

If you have any questions about dragonflies, please post them here. I am no expert, but hopefully I can give you good answer!

8 thoughts on “Our First Dragonfly!

  • January 15, 2010 at 4:09 pm
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    Hello Ms. Lenahan I have a little queston for you!

    How did you feel when you saw a nimph transform into a dragofly?

    Pleese reply thanks!

    Reply
    • January 15, 2010 at 4:11 pm
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      Jack,
      It was quite amazing to watch the nymph transform into a dragonfly! The nymphs usually come out of the water at night to emerge. John and I watched one nymph emerge after midnight! It was very beautiful to see!

      Your teacher,
      Ms. L

      Reply
  • May 13, 2009 at 10:08 am
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    I got excited to see are first dragonfly.

    Reply
  • May 5, 2009 at 8:28 pm
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    Our first dragonfly to hatch was beautiful. He was a twelve spotted skimmer. I hope our next one is as pretty as him. Our new that hatched today will problably be ready to fly tommorrow because tommorrow will have a 20% chance of rains.

    Reply
  • May 1, 2009 at 9:40 pm
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    Ms.Lenahan does that dragonfly have two pair of wings. Oh and my grandma,Aida said hi and she asked How are you Ms.L?

    Reply
  • May 1, 2009 at 6:04 am
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    Congratulations on the eclosion! It does seem a bit early for that, but I guess that the early bird (or dragonfly) gets the worm. I hope that this is an early indication of the dragonfly population for the coming season…Keep up the great work!

    Reply
  • May 1, 2009 at 5:52 am
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    Well, I dont have any questions but I have some memories about the dragon fly. P.s( mUHAha muhaha muhaha muhaha cough cough water water I need refreshing water.) Well, then I need to go take a shower la la la…….

    Reply

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