Newly-emerged adult dragonflies, known as tenerals, are a pale green colour at first, with only hints of the final adult patterning. Their wings remain very reflective for a couple of days and the flight is weak and fluttery. As the body and wings harden off, they begin hunting for food whenever fine weather permits. They spend about a week, depending on the weather, feeding away from water and gradually acquire adult colouration and sexual maturity.