Damselfly nymphs are aquatic, they spend up to a year living in lakes, ponds and streams before molting and becoming an adult. The three long appendages at the end of the abdomen are the gills where the nymph breathes.
I found this dragonfly at the pond at Haw Ridge. Like all insects, the eyes on a dragonfly are compound. The 50,000 individual eyes make up much of their head so they can see their prey in nearly all directions. They are sometimes referred to as "mosquito hawks" because they catch the insects in midair; they can fly at speeds up to 35 mph.
)was one of many at the pond at Haw Ridge. I was surprised to see that this dragonfly has something in common with my daughter, her name is Lydia! Male dragonflies are very territorial, they will chase other males away, especially if their mate is nearby. The females dip their tails in the pond to lay their eggs. Sometimes they can be seen trying to lay their eggs on silver-colored car surfaces! The nymph, called a naiad, will hatch from the egg, it lives in the pond for a year or more, eating, growing and molting up to 5 times.
