Stats

Lifespan

1 year

Size

Small

Diet

Insectivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

Northern Hemisphere

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Speed

Status

Common

About

Meadowhawks are small dragonflies that hunt across temperate northern meadows. They can beat their wings independently to hover in place or fly backward while hunting.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Odonata

Family

Libellulidae

Genus

Sympetrum