Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. 14th June 2022. A warm spring morning and an emperor dragonfly is emerging from its shell (exuvia) as it clings to a sturdy grass stem at the edge of a pond. The adults lay eggs each summer and these hatch after three weeks. The larva then take 2 years to fully develop inside the hard shell. They then climb out of the water and the exuvia splits at the back and the adult pulls its head and thorax out of the shell. It slowly pulls its abdomen out as it hangs upside down. It will then turn itself head up to pull the last segment of abdomen out. The wings slowl
Image details
Contributor:
Philip Jones / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
2JCM1NTFile size:
57.7 MB (2.1 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
5184 x 3888 px | 43.9 x 32.9 cm | 17.3 x 13 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
14 June 2022Location:
Aberystwyth Ceredigion Wales UKMore information:
This image could have imperfections as it’s either historical or reportage.
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. 14th June 2022. A warm spring morning and an emperor dragonfly is emerging from its shell (exuvia) as it clings to a sturdy grass stem at the edge of a pond. The adults lay eggs each summer and these hatch after three weeks. The larva then take 2 years to fully develop inside the hard shell. They then climb out of the water and the exuvia splits at the back and the adult pulls its head and thorax out of the shell. It slowly pulls its abdomen out as it hangs upside down. It will then turn itself head up to pull the last segment of abdomen out. The wings slowly expand from a crumpled state to a stiff state before they are spread and then a few minutes later it takes to the air for the first time leaving the empty exuvia clinging still to the grass stem. The typical bright colours develop over thenext week or so and the whole process of emerging took about three hours. Credit: Phil Jones/Alamy Live News