Dragonflies live in two main stages: as aquatic nymphs (larvae) and as flying adults. Their life span varies greatly depending on the species and stage.

• As adults, dragonflies typically live from about 1 week to 8 weeks. Some large species can live as flying adults for up to 4 to 6 months if conditions are favorable. Generally, adult dragonflies' life expectancy is short, often just a few weeks, but it can be longer in warm weather without extreme conditions. Most adult dragonflies die from predation or accidents rather than old age.

• The nymph stage is much longer and can last from a few weeks to several years (up to 5 or even 6-7 years in some species). During this stage, the dragonfly lives underwater and undergoes multiple molts before emerging as an adult.

In summary, while adult dragonflies may live just weeks to a few months, their overall life span including the larval stage can span several years depending on the species. The longer aquatic nymph stage makes up the majority of their lifespan. Thus, dragonflies live weeks to months as adults but can live several years in total when including the larval stage.