What do dragonfly larvae eat? A detailed guide to common food types

Dragonflies are typical hemimetabolous insects; they do not go through a pupal stage when transforming from nymph to adult, and their entire life cycle consists of only three stages: egg, nymph and adult. At the same time, dragonfly nymphs are aquatic, while adults are terrestrial insects capable of flight. Let us now take a look at what food dragonfly larvae eat!

What food do dragonfly larvae eat?

The diet of dragonfly larvae is related to species. Larvae that usually inhabit streams feed mainly on mayfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs, chironomids and other Diptera larvae, as well as some small fish. Species that inhabit still waters feed mainly on tadpoles, small shrimps, small fish, water fleas, smaller dragonfly nymphs, backswimmers, mosquito larvae, chironomids and other Diptera larvae. The natural enemies of dragonfly larvae are birds, large omnivorous fish, Ranatra, Belostoma and diving beetles.

How long is the larval stage of a dragonfly?

The larval stage is the longest period in a dragonfly's life. The first stage or instar of the nymph after hatching is called the prolarva; it has no legs and usually lasts only a few seconds to a few minutes. After this first molt, the nymph enters the second instar and has simply constructed legs and three segmented antennae. Dragonfly nymphs have different numbers of instars depending on the species, ranging from 8 to 16 instars. The time required for the entire nymphal stage varies with species and season, ranging from one month to three or four years.

Are dragonflies beneficial insects or pests?

Dragonflies are hemimetabolous insects. The nymph, called a "shui chai" (water nymph), lives in water, breathes in water with rectal tracheal gills, and hunts using a highly developed labial mask. It generally has to molt more than 11 times and takes 2 years or more before it crawls out of the water along aquatic plants, and then after a final molt emerges as an adult. In the water, the nymph can prey on mosquito larvae or other small animals, and sometimes members of the same species cannibalize each other. Both adults and larvae are carnivorous and mostly eat pests. Besides being able to prey on mosquitoes and flies in large numbers, some adults can also prey on pests such as butterflies, moths and bees, making them truly beneficial insects.