Dragonfly Naiad

Description

Each dragonfly naiad measures between 1/3 inch and a full inch, on average. These aquatic larvae eat small, live prey. I have no problems getting them to take house flies or small roaches or crickets. I usually submerge the prey item near to the dragonfly to help them find it. If you have access to small aquatic feeders, you can just put them in the aquarium. Dragonfly naiads are very good hunters.

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Provide a small bit of floating material in the tank for them to hold onto, especially once they grow and as they approach maturity. When full grown as larvae they will crawl onto some textured surface on the side of the tank, emerge from their larval skin and spread their wings. Adults (and larvae) should not be released outdoors under any circumstances. They will compete with other things in your area and disrupt the balance of nature.

Current specimens are aquatic immatures (naiads) with indeterminate remaining time to maturity. It can take as much as 2 years for them to develop though these typically mature much sooner depending on the time of year and size. As their wing buds become noticeably thicker it is time to adjust the tank they are in to provide both a section of “land” and something for them to climb up to spread out their wings. Do not release the adults into your area. They do not belong there. Also, and again, do not place these larvae in your backyard pond, etc. for similar reasons.

Note that specimens will usually be dragonfly larvae, but sometimes we may send damselfly larvae if we are out of dragonfly larvae. Both of these are similar members of the insect order Odonata.