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What prey do dragonfly larvae eat?
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Odonata
Male jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx splendens).
Dragonfly larvae are dedicated aquatic predators that feed on a variety of small water animals. Their diet changes as they grow through different developmental stages, or instars:
- Early instars: These young larvae feed actively on tiny crustaceans and protozoans.1
- Later instars: As they mature, they consume larger prey, including midge larvae, aquatic beetles, snails, worms, tadpoles, mosquito larvae, and even small fish.12
To capture this prey, dragonfly larvae utilize a specialized anatomical structure called a "mask," which is a fusion of their third pair of mouthparts. This structure is disproportionately large and folds beneath the head and thorax when not in use; it is equipped with fanglike pincers at the end that allow the larva to seize its prey.2