Dragonflies are insects that exhibit incomplete metamorphosis. Butterfly's are insects that exhibit complete metamorphosis, so what is the difference?
There are three distinct stages of the life of a dragonfly: the egg, the nymph, and adulthood. The majority of a dragonfly's life is lived out as a nymph: underwater, in slow and calm waters, breathing through gills. The nymph stage can last several years more than the typical one year life of an adult. The adult dragonfly will only hatch in warm spring weather, depending on the sun's rays for warmth.