The large, winged insect known as the dragonfly belongs to the order Odonata. Their life cycle rapidly unfolds during the warm summer months. These aerial predators are a constant presence around ponds and wetlands, yet they seem to disappear entirely when the first cold snap arrives. Because adult dragonflies cannot survive freezing temperatures, their sudden absence prompts the question of where this highly visible insect goes when the temperature drops. The answer varies by species, involving a few biological strategies to survive the colder parts of the year.
The Most Common Answer: Life Beneath the Water
The majority of dragonfly species in temperate climates spend the winter entirely underwater in their aquatic larval stage, commonly called a naiad or nymph. This submerged phase represents the longest portion of the dragonfly’s life, often lasting from one to several years. Water provides a stable thermal environment, remaining above freezing even if ice forms on the surface, insulating the larvae from the harsh winter air.
To cope with the seasonal slowdown, naiads often enter diapause, a state of suspended development. This is a programmed physiological arrest where their metabolism significantly slows down in response to decreasing water temperatures and shortening daylight hours. During this time, they may burrow into the mud or cling to submerged vegetation for protection.
While their growth rate is reduced, many dragonfly naiads remain active predators throughout the winter, feeding on smaller invertebrates, tadpoles, and small fish. They are not entirely dormant like a hibernating mammal, but operate at a much slower pace under the water’s protection. They continue to develop until environmental cues in the spring signal it is time to emerge as a flying adult.
The Long-Distance Flyers: Species That Migrate
A small number of dragonfly species employ true seasonal migrations, similar to birds and monarch butterflies, to avoid the winter altogether. This strategy is best exemplified in North America by the Green Darner (Anax junius), a common, large, and recognizable species. These powerful flyers may travel hundreds of miles from northern breeding grounds to warmer southern regions, such as the southern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
The migration is a multi-generational relay. The adult dragonflies that fly south in the autumn are not the same individuals that will return north the following spring. The fall migrants lay eggs in the south, and those offspring develop into a generation that remains in the warmer climate over the winter. It is the subsequent generation, emerging in the spring, that then flies north to repopulate the northern territories.
The fall movement is often noticeable, with large groups flying south between August and October. These migrating adults die after reproducing in the south, ensuring the species’ survival until their descendants can make the journey back north. Their ability to cover up to 87 miles in a single day makes this lengthy journey possible.
Hiding in Plain Sight: Surviving as Dormant Eggs
A less common but effective overwintering method for certain dragonfly species, such as some types of meadowhawks and spreadwings, is to survive the cold as a dormant egg. The adult female lays her eggs late in the summer or fall, often inserting them into plant tissue along the water’s edge or dropping them into the mud. These eggs then enter a state of diapause, pausing their embryonic development.
This strategy allows the species to bypass the cold season entirely at the earliest life stage. The tiny eggs are extremely resilient, sometimes even capable of surviving freezing temperatures outside of the water. The eggs remain in this suspended state until the environmental conditions of the following spring, such as rising temperatures and a return of moisture, trigger them to hatch into the aquatic naiad stage.