November 2026 Salon

“Poetic Justice”: Adult and nymphal Common Green Darner Anax junius, and adult and larval Leopard Frog, Lithobates pipiens.

The immature nymphs or Naiads of A. junius are fierce underwater predators, that can live in this juvenile form for up to five years (depending on the food supply and water temperature of their habitat). Once they metamorphose and become adult dragonflies, they are still fierce predators in the air, but live only a couple of months before the life cycle begins again as they mate, lay their eggs, and die. The tadpoles of Rana pipiens metamorphose into their adult form within 3 to 4 months, and the adults can live up to five years.