09/16/2025
One of the oldest species still around and the earliest flying insect, dragonflies have an incredible 300-million-year-old history. With 3,000 different species, they've evolved and adapted to thrive on every continent, except Antarctica, and in all climates. 🌎
Found near ponds, sloughs, or other bodies of standing water, the Eastern Pondhawk belongs to a family of dragonflies called skimmers. This just means that they adjust their body temperature by skimming over the surface of water by briefly touching it. In North America there are roughly 300 dragonfly species with around 100 of them classified as 'skimmers'. These dragonflies also come in a wide variety of colors and wing patterns.
Males and females of this species have different appearances with females and young males being brilliant green and having black spots along their abdomens. Older males, however, develop a blue abdomen.
Just like the colors and patterns of dragonflies differ based on the species, so too does their lifespan. From egg to adult, their lifespan can last anywhere from 6 months to 7 years! All dragonflies have the same three stages to their life cycle: the egg, the nymph, and the adult dragonfly. The lifespan of each cycle depends on environmental conditions, such as water temperature and food availability. The nymph stage is usually the longest stage, with the potential of it lasting up to four years and them molting anywhere from 8 to 20 times! The timing between these molts also depends on how the nymph has been eating, as this is the stage where they feed and grow, and how warm the water is.
