The diagram shows the life cycle of a dragonfly, from the egg stage to the adult insect.
Overall, dragonflies begin their lives in water and spend most of their time as nymphs before becoming flying adults. The nymph stage is the longest part of the cycle, while the adult stage is mainly for reproduction.
The cycle starts when adult dragonflies mate. After that, the female lays her eggs in or near water. These eggs hatch after about two to five weeks. The young dragonflies, called nymphs, live underwater for a long period, between one and five years. During this stage, they feed on small water animals and grow bigger. As they grow, they molt several times, which means they shed their outer skin.
When the nymph is fully developed, it leaves the water and attaches to a plant. It then molts one final time, and an adult dragonfly comes out. Its wings dry and become strong, allowing it to fly. The adult dragonfly then mates and lays eggs, and the life cycle continues.