Dragonfly larva hunts wearing mask

Dragon fly larvae are just as efficient hunters as their parents, although they do not fly, but rather swim or crawl about lakes and streams. With their large eyes, they can easily spot the prey – i.e. almost anything that moves under the water surface – capturing it with their “secret” weapon, the mask. In spite of the name, it is not a disguise, but rather a particularly well-developed lower jaw, which the dragon fly larva can jut out to capture its unsuspecting prey from a distance of several cm.

THE JAW REMAINS FOLDED

1 The dragon fly larva’s well-developed lower jaw (the mask) can be bent in two joints and is folded under its body.

THE JAW JUTS OUT

2 In attacks, the mask is rapidly jutted forwards, and the curved spikes at the end of it capture the prey like pincers.