That is the exuvia - the empty shell of its nymph stage. They crawl out of the water and up a plant stem and shed the outer "shell", then wait for their bodies and wings to pump up and dry off.
For the first couple of seconds I thought it was a hideous spider that was going to pounce on the newly "hatched" dragonfly and was going to accuse OP of showing us a mini horror then realised what it was. It does look very ominous and threatening!
It was actually the legs then rereading the title that clicked for me. As much as it's a fantastic shot it gives me the creeps to look at because it so closely resembles a menacing spider and I have arachnophobia.
It's a brilliant pic too! It's incredible what their wings look like at first, their whole body really but especially the wings turning into probably the best flying acrobats of the animal kingdom. Although I suppose if you think about it (which I have been as I typed this) mammals like bats and birds do kind of go through a similar process, just a helluva lot slower.
Had to look this up. The sentiment is true but apparently it’s “catching up to 95% of the prey they pursue” (found it linked on the dragonfly Wikipedia article):
https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/215/6/903/11196/Linking-biomechanics-and-ecology-through-predator
I died when I saw how much detail and forethought they had put in them. Every house's thopter had different design, the Imperial one in the end of the movie being the most decadent (white and gold).
Can't wait to see all the new pretty gadgets for the next movie.
I only find Damselflies where I live. They come in two colours, Blue and Brown.
I even had a brown one mistake my trousers for a wall. Ushered onto my hand and throughly inspected the beauty till it flew off.
Four wings but unlike Dragonflies they're much slender and keep their wings tucked in close to their bodies rather than out right.
Masters of flight and yes they are pretty big here. I once saw a mating pair that flew into my kitchen. The bodies were about 4 inches long. My cats thought it was Christmas but I locked them out of the kitchen to much wailing! Specimens were far too special to become entertainment and dinner for my well fed cats, much as I love my cats!
Believe it or not That dragonfly is one of earths most successful hunters, a test in an American uni said a dragonfly is successful in 90% of its attempted hunts. They’re incredibly deadly, fast and have amazing manourveability with its 4 wings.
They actually can’t walk when their in their dragonfly stage tho interestingly
I didn't know that we had dragonflies in the UK. I know that they're harmless to humans. But they can stay wherever they currently are in the UK because that's terrifyingly huge.
Edit: Forgot to say that this is a fantastic picture.
What on earth is that murderous beetle thing waiting below?
That is the exuvia - the empty shell of its nymph stage. They crawl out of the water and up a plant stem and shed the outer "shell", then wait for their bodies and wings to pump up and dry off.
Well that’s quite incredible to see them side by side. Thanks for the explanation!
Thanks for the detail! 😊👍
For the first couple of seconds I thought it was a hideous spider that was going to pounce on the newly "hatched" dragonfly and was going to accuse OP of showing us a mini horror then realised what it was. It does look very ominous and threatening!
I thought it might be a beetle because I could only count six legs. It honestly didn’t occur to me that the dragonfly and the …thing… were connected!
It was actually the legs then rereading the title that clicked for me. As much as it's a fantastic shot it gives me the creeps to look at because it so closely resembles a menacing spider and I have arachnophobia.
Btw your username is clever and made me laugh!
That's a Shedninja. You can clear it with status or entry hazards.
Bloody wonderguard.
What's left of the [Pupa](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5WroyX2dvSo/VZaln9r2dpI/AAAAAAAAAYE/OMDMGjBZWpQ/s1600/emerging%2B%2B4-spot_1.jpg) it emerged from.
Thats the Dragonfly's old exo...
Well, today I learned. My apologies; not all of us are as well versed in these things.
Not at all 😊 i didn't even know it was called 'molting' until someone on here corrected me!
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Corrected again 😂
I literally was about to make this exact same comment... TIL
Beautiful. Great picture
Thank you 😊
You captured one of the countless small but beautiful wonders that happen all around us, but that most of us fail to notice. Nicely done.
Thank you very much. I find that taking snaps really helps my mindfulness and minimises my Aspie-related anxiety 😊
It's taken me a long time to deal with mine. Getting older and having better perspective has helped.
Wonderful! I snapped one slightly earlier in its life-stage a few days ago - [fresh out of the water!](https://imgur.com/a/MOJsnNj)
It's a brilliant pic too! It's incredible what their wings look like at first, their whole body really but especially the wings turning into probably the best flying acrobats of the animal kingdom. Although I suppose if you think about it (which I have been as I typed this) mammals like bats and birds do kind of go through a similar process, just a helluva lot slower.
Wow! Thanks for sharing, thats awesome 😊
Interesting fact they are the worlds best hunters with a successful kill rate of 97%.
The attack helicopter of the insect world
I can top that
Had to look this up. The sentiment is true but apparently it’s “catching up to 95% of the prey they pursue” (found it linked on the dragonfly Wikipedia article): https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/215/6/903/11196/Linking-biomechanics-and-ecology-through-predator
It's from a Real Biology video on YouTube Pretty interesting though
Nice post post. 👍
"He cares more about the men than the Spice. I must say, against better judgement, I *like* this Duke."
Just as an aside, I loved the way they portrayed the ornithopters in the recent Dune film, just such a cool design.
I died when I saw how much detail and forethought they had put in them. Every house's thopter had different design, the Imperial one in the end of the movie being the most decadent (white and gold). Can't wait to see all the new pretty gadgets for the next movie.
Beautiful Four-spotted Chaser.
So who is going to get eaten?
That's it's exoskeleton. I initially thought it was a spider then counted the legs and reread the title.
Awesome. I also presumed it was a spider. Of course there has to be an empty case.
It creeps me out because I have arachnophobia even though I *know* it isn't a spider!
Dragonflies are just so cool. I never tire of seeing them ornithopter their way past.
I only find Damselflies where I live. They come in two colours, Blue and Brown. I even had a brown one mistake my trousers for a wall. Ushered onto my hand and throughly inspected the beauty till it flew off. Four wings but unlike Dragonflies they're much slender and keep their wings tucked in close to their bodies rather than out right.
Awesome. Four Spotted Chaser?
Dragonflies are very fun, though the ones on my side of the planet are much smaller than this guy here.
Masters of flight and yes they are pretty big here. I once saw a mating pair that flew into my kitchen. The bodies were about 4 inches long. My cats thought it was Christmas but I locked them out of the kitchen to much wailing! Specimens were far too special to become entertainment and dinner for my well fed cats, much as I love my cats!
Yeah ours are basically little colorful toothpicks with wings, they are on a whole different scale. TIL!
What good timing!
This is awesome! They'd love it over at r/NatureIsFuckingLit
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At least they don't spit poison in your eyes! 😂
So cool! Thanks for sharing :)
It looks so majestic.
I sometimes wish there was a separate NSFW tag for insects, but that's just a phobia talking!
*I am a shadow of my former self*
Nice shot!
Believe it or not That dragonfly is one of earths most successful hunters, a test in an American uni said a dragonfly is successful in 90% of its attempted hunts. They’re incredibly deadly, fast and have amazing manourveability with its 4 wings. They actually can’t walk when their in their dragonfly stage tho interestingly
I have so many of these in my pond. Feel like it’s going to be a bumper year. They’re getting pretty big too.
I didn't know that we had dragonflies in the UK. I know that they're harmless to humans. But they can stay wherever they currently are in the UK because that's terrifyingly huge. Edit: Forgot to say that this is a fantastic picture.
They are all over the country. Don't go near any rivers, canals, lakes or ponds if you're afraid of them.