What emerges from the egg is tiny and tadpole-like, and designed to escape from the egg. In cases where the egg is laid above the waterline, this ‘prolarva’ wriggles to safety as soon as it hatches and moults within a few hours. Prolarvae emerging from eggs laid below the waterline moult almost immediately after hatching. During its time as a larva, the dragonfly catches and eats live prey at every opportunity, moulting a further 5–14 times until it is fully-grown.