Emperor dragonfly. Emperor dragonfly, Anax imperator, resting on a plant stalk as it warms itself in sunshine at dawn. Dragonflies are a fairly primitive order of carnivorous, winged insects. They are superb flyers, being able to maintain a stationary hover and can even fly backwards. Dragonfly larvae (nymphs) live in ponds. A. imperator spends 2-5 years as a nymph before living in the adult form for a single summer.