These delightful creatures spend the first few months of their lives completely underwater in shallow estuarine lagoons. In spring they climb partly submerged reeds and hang upside down clinging by their tails while their bodies undergo metamorphosis. They sprout brightly coloured wings which when dry, enable them to take to the air. They feed like butterflies, clinging to the plants stem and using their long narrow snouts to extract nectar. Towards the end of the year they mate and lay their eggs in water allowing the whole cycle to repeat itself.
