The emperor of the biological pool is not a frog, the emperor is a dragonfly. Anax imperator, thus the scientific name, is one of the largest species on the continent where it is abundant from North to South. The male is dressed in bright turquoise blue colors, and is tirelessly in flight above the biological pool, controlling who is entering his empire, that is, the airspace above the water surface. He patrols along the banks and, when any animal in flight appears, flies in an arrow to check who it was. There are always three possibilities, some prey, for example a fly, another species of dragonfly that will let pass, or some competitor, a male of the same species, that will attack.

The first emperors, thus the name in Portuguese, are born in mid-March after a year of aquatic life. Also in the water they are dangerous predators and feed on all living beings smaller than themselves. As the larvae reach a size of 55 mm they even manage to hunt tadpoles too.

The change from underwater to aerial life for this species is one of the most spectacular transformations in fauna. As shown in the photo, the complete dragonfly, with its four wings and eyes to see in the air, comes out of the larva’s shell, ready and completely prepared for its new life. The transformation process takes a few hours at dawn while the dragonfly prepares its body to dry for life in flight. After this most sensitive moment in the life of this insect, the emperor of the biological pool takes off to patrol tirelessly over the biological pool’s water surface, his empire.

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