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Below and on successive pages are photos of two emerging Anax junius (Common Green Darner)
combined into a single sequence to illustrate the entire process. These photos were taken by Ken
Tennessen in mid-September (9/13 and 9/17) at a pond in Waushara County, Wisconsin. In both cases,
emergence began
between 9:00 and 10:00 AM and the maiden flight occurred at about 3:00 PM. Air temperature was
relatively cool at this time (50° to 65° F), and the process probably occurs appreciably faster at
higher temperatures
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1. Nymph is crawling out of water during mid-morning to begin metamorphosis to adult dragonfly (note swollen wing pads). |
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2. Head and thorax pushing out of exuvia. |
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3. Head and thorax nearly out. |
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4. Head and thorax are out. |
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5. Head and thorax completely out, legs and wings partly out. |
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6. Hanging upside-down, legs completely out; antennae held close to head as they
were in the exuvia. This was about 20 minutes from the time the head split, and it
stayed in this postion for 57 minutes. |
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