The Broad-bodied chaser is a common dragonfly that can be seen in summer around ponds and lakes, and even in gardens. It lives up to its name: its flattened body gives it a fat, broad look.
While skimmer dragonflies are generally small in size (the smallest dragonfly ever found was a skimmer), they make up for their lesser size with vivid colors. Skimmers often lack the noticeable iridescent sheen, but their bright hues can include every color of the rainbow along with brown and black shades.
The Brilliant Emerald is considered to be a nationally rare species. Habitats occupied in Scotland and in southeast England are only broadly similar: sheltered, standing or slow-flowing waters usually, but not always, edged with good tree cover.
Competition for territories can be fierce. There are usually far fewer territories at a body of water than there are male dragonflies who want them, so they are constantly trying to claim better territories and mate with as many females as they can. It's effectively a war zone!
Do female dragonflies play dead if they don't want to mate with a male?
In the Swiss Alps, the insects have evolved a way to survive encounters with aggressive males. Some female dragonflies go to great lengths to avoid sex—they fake their own deaths.
After mating occurs, the pair may separate and fly away, or the territorial male may follow the female to guard her from other males while she lays eggs in the water. After laying the eggs, dragonflies will mate a few more times before dying of old age - in only a month or two.
The good news is that they do not have a stinger, just teeth. If you happen to find that you have been bitten by a dragonfly, there is no cause for alarm, as their bite is not enough to break the skin. When it comes to our pets – dogs or cats – the same is to be true.
Underwater, aquatic plants, grasses and roots provide excellent cover to sleep among. On the land, dragonflies will sleep tucked away in bushes or under leaves, or sometimes more out in plain sight, if they feel sufficiently camouflaged. Dragonflies do sleep. Dragonflies also don't carry diseases or germs!
The earliest dragonfly to emerge in the UK, it is on the wing from May to July. Hawkers are the largest and fastest flying dragonflies. They catch their insect-prey mid-air and can hover and fly backwards.
An easy way to tell the difference between damselflies and dragonflies is that when they aren't flying, dragonflies keep their wings perpendicular to their body but damselflies don't. Look out for these bugs hanging around water.
One of the largest species in the UK, the emperor dragonfly measures 7.8cm long. Males are pale blue with a green thorax and black stripe along the body. Females are a slightly duller blue. Both have green-blue eyes and are recognised by their impressive size.
The colour of adult dragonflies changes with age. Tenerals (newly emerged adults) can appear very pale and may not have their mature colouration yet. You may have to look closely for any emerging markings or patterns to help identify it. Similarly very mature adults can appear much darker.
What's the difference between a skimmer and a dragonfly?
Skimmers are unique among dragonflies for their diversity of colors, wing patterns and habits. They arguably are the most easily identifiable group due to their beautiful coloration and uniquely patterned wings, which can be quite showy.
The Broad-bodied chaser is a common dragonfly that can be seen in summer around ponds and lakes, and even in gardens. It lives up to its name: its flattened body gives it a fat, broad look.
While they are most effective in their larval stage, adult dragonflies can still eat up to 100, if not many more, mosquitoes per day. Not only do dragonflies control mosquito populations – they help control other bugs, too, like midges.
Some Native American tribes believed that dragonflies were the souls of the dead. A dragonfly visiting a loved one who has died could mean that the loved one's soul was taking the form of a dragonfly.
Nymphs eat mainly aquatic insects, insect larvae and small crustaceans, but will also eat tadpoles and small fish. Adult dragonflies eat flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, wasps, bees, mosquitoes — and even other dragonflies.
Ingestion Risk: Dogs that catch and eat dragonflies could experience gastrointestinal upset. Dragonflies are not toxic, but their exoskeletons are hard and indigestible, which could potentially cause mild to moderate gastrointestinal irritation or even a blockage in smaller breeds.
Mainly, adult dragonflies eat other flying insects, particularly midges and mosquitoes. They also will take butterflies, moths and smaller dragonflies. There is one Asian species which takes spiders from their webs! The larvae, which live in water, eat almost anything living that is smaller than themselves.
In truth dragonflies are harmless to humans – unless you force your finger into their mouth. A large golden-ringed dragonfly once gave my father's finger a bloody nip as he held it for me to photograph. But dragonflies certainly can't sting you, and they won't bite you unless severely provoked.
Dragonflies eat lots of mosquitoes. Dragonflies prefer to live near ponds but will hang out near any body of water. You can attract dragonflies by installing a pond filled with plants. Dragonflies do not bite or sting people.
If you've ever had a dragonfly land on you, someone may have told you that it's a signal of good luck. It's true. Dragonflies are spiritually symbolic critters that are believed—across different cultures—to uphold various meanings, including being a symbol of luck.
Dragonflies are predators and aren't typically afraid of humans! As always, let nature come to you - please don't try and catch them or pick them up as they can give a bit of a nibble if they feel threatened!
