When dragonflies become adults, the process involves climbing out of the water as a nymph and emerging as a fully winged adult through a slit in the back of the shell. The process can take several hours and after emerging there is a period when the wings and outer skin of the dragonfly is very soft. At this stage these creatures are extremely vulnerable and this metamorphosis takes place at night when there are few birds active to interrupt the process by eating the dragonfly.

Thanks to Leonard Mueller for identifying this species.