What is the lifespan of a dragonfly?

The typical dragonfly's life span is roughly 6 months from the time the egg is laid until it dies as a fully-grown adult, although some larger types can live up to a few years. Much of a dragonfly's life is spent underwater as a larva.

Dragonflies have three life stages: egg, larva and adult. The larva or teneral stage is a critical time for dragonflies, and the insects are most exposed to predators during this time. Once the dragonfly completes its metamorphosis, it must wait a few hours for its wings to dry out completely, and for it to develop the strength to fly. An adult dragonfly only lives long enough to mature and reproduce, although during colder months, dragonflies die within weeks of maturing.