Photo of a Cardinal Meadowhawk nymph (Sympetrum illotum) preparing for metamorphosis

---

The whole metamorphosis from nymph to teneral (young adult) took approximately 1 hour. It takes two more weeks for this dragonfly to obtain its characteristic red color.

---

Size: 4287px × 2848px
Location: Estado de Mexico, Mexico
Photo credit: © Guillermo Lopez Barrera / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: cardinal, dragonfly, emergence, illotum, meadowhawk, metamorphosis, mexican, neotropical, nymph, sympetrum, young