What is the life cycle of damselflies and dragonflies like?

What is the life cycle of damselflies and dragonflies like?

• A. They hatch directly as winged adults
• B. They live underwater as nymphs and emerge as adults
• C. They develop entirely on land
• D. They spend their entire life cycle as aquatic larvae

Answer: (B)

Damselflies and dragonflies hatch from eggs laid in or near water and begin life as aquatic naiads. These nymphs live underwater for a period, growing and feeding before they are ready to become adults. When they’re ready, the nymph crawls out of the water and molts into a winged adult. The adult then flies and mates, and after fertilization lays more eggs to restart the cycle. This pattern—aquatic immature forms that resemble but are not yet winged, followed by winged adults—is an example of incomplete metamorphosis. The key point is that the life cycle includes an aquatic larval stage plus a terrestrial, aerial adult stage; they do not stay underwater as larvae for the entire life.