Product Description
Dragonflies, have three stages in their life cycle: egg - larva - adult. Adult dragonflies have a long and slender abdomen, two pairs of wings and three pairs of legs. They also have very large eyes.
EGG, The dragonfly begins life in or near the water, as an egg. After mating, the female dragonfly will often lay her eggs while still holding on to the male, or while the male guards her from predators and other males. Rarely, she will lay her eggs alone. The eggs are normally dropped directly into the water, on or inside aquatic plants, or into the damp ground near the water. They will typically hatch in one to five weeks, depending on species. A female can lay several thousand eggs in her lifetime, usually in several different batches over a few days or weeks.
NYMPH, After the incubation period, tiny creatures with six legs, wing-sheaths, hinged jaws, and the ability to breathe while underwater will emerge from the eggs. This is the longest life stage of the dragonfly, and it is important to note here that because of this, dragonflies spend most of their lives underwater. These larvae will also usually molt, or shed their skin to make way for new growth, within a few hours. During this time as a larva, the dragonfly will catch and eat live prey as often as possible, with insect larva, worms, snails, leeches, tadpoles and small fish included on the menu. They will also molt as often as necessary to reach full growth, sometimes molting as many as 14 times. Larval development can last anywhere from two months, up to one or two years, depending on species and environment. Whether the eggs are laid in cooler waters where food is scarce, or in an area where the climate is warm and food is plentiful, development can be sped up or slowed down resulting in the possibility of more than one generation per year in some areas.
ADULT, Adulthood is triggered by a major event for the dragonfly, one called Emergence. Unlike butterflies, dragonflies do not have a cocoon stage, and emerge as an adult through a final molting stage that takes place outside of the water. The larva that are in the final stages will gather near the water’s edge for several days preparing for this final molt and will begin to learn to breathe air at this time. The trigger for this occurrence is day length and temperature, and can vary from species to species. Once ready, the dragonfly larva will travel to find vegetation on which they can prepare to emerge as an adult. Some may travel as far as several meters over dry land to find an appropriate area with enough support to keep them safe during their final molt into adulthood. Once this perfect place is found, they begin the process of emerging by first redistributing the fluids in their body. This is no small feat, and requires them to push their newly developed body out of the old shell of their larval self slowly, leaving enough time between each portion for the new.
Collectible Wildlife Gifts is the market leader in providing high quality, realistic toys of all types! Every one of our items is heavily inspected for quality craftsmanship and authenticity. Our products make great gifts for your family and friends! Additionally, our lifelike animal figurines and plush make for great displays and educational sets. We are happy to serve our wide range of clientele from parents to educators, gift shop owners and many more!
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From plush sharks to educational animal growths cycle we offer the perfect toy or gift for any occasion. Our products have been ordered by educational groups, aquariums, zoos, and more.
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