Lifespan of a Green Darner Dragonfly

These sizable and conspicuous dragonflies generally grow to lengths of between 2.25 and 3.5 inches. Males are bigger than females. Both their thoraxes and heads are green. The males have narrow blue stomach regions, while the females' are brown and yellow. Green darner dragonflies' wings are clear, although they become yellowish close to the edges. Other noteworthy features of the insects are their big eyes, prickly limbs and sturdy jaws.

Green darner dragonflies are not long-lived creatures in any sense. They often survive for a little over a year, according to the website for the Illinois State Museum. This typical life expectancy takes into consideration various periods of their lives, including their egg, nymph and fully mature days. The larval period is the longest stage for green darner dragonflies.

The lifespan for adults of this rapid-flying species is extremely brief, usually ranging from four to seven weeks. Green darners typically have so little time as adults that most of it's spent engaging in reproductive activities. Breeding generally takes place in the summertime, in both July and August.

At all ages, members of this species are carnivores, although green darner dragonflies eat slightly different diets depending on the specific point in their lifespans. As larvae, they typically go for water bugs, such as the larvae of flies, mayflies and mosquitoes. They also dine readily on crustaceans such as shrimp, as well as tadpoles and tiny fish. During a green darner's short life as an adult, it feeds on insects, insects and more insects, from termites to mosquitoes and moths.