Damselfly (yellow)

Damselfly (yellow)

Nikon D300 105mm w/ extension tube
August 2009
Glass Lake, N.Y. USA

The damselfly nymph is very predacious. It usually lies in wait for other aquatic bugs to get within range and grabs them with its ‘labium’ which is much like a modified lower jaw. The nymph will proceed through 10 to 12 molts before becoming fully developed and ready to emerge as an adult. With each molt the nymph becomes somewhat darker in color.

Finally the nymph will crawl up on vegetation and break through its skin along the wing case and out comes a shortened version of the adult. Before it takes flight, the new adult must pump body fluids into its abdomen and wings. This causes both to lengthen. Depending on the species, the adult will live for several weeks to several months before mating and dying. Meanwhile the nymph of the next generation will move to the deeper water in the fall. It will hibernate over winter and return to the shallow water the following spring to begin the process all over again. (Info: Ron Newman)

Damselfly (yellow) belongs to the following groups:

! 100% !, ** Super Macro Photography (Two Per Day ), Birds and Creatures of Flight, Bug Hunt! (with Location please), Butterflies, Skippers, Moths, & Other Winged Insects (2 a Day), Damselflies - (Zygoptera), Extreme Close-Ups and Insects, Bugs and Creepy Crawlies (2 A Day) Available for sale as

Greeting Cards and Matted Prints