Dragonflies from Holland eastwards. Most frequent in Suborder Anisoptera E Europe. Club-tailed Dragonflies, * Onychogomphus forcipatus Family Gomphidae A boldly marked black and yellow insect, with an abdomen length of about 36mm, A distinctive small group, unique within tipped with distinctive large, inwardly European dragonflies in that they have curved, yellowish claspers on the male. widely separated eyes. Five species occur in Characteristically seen resting on gravel or the area. sand by rivers. Habitat Around rivers or canals, usually where there are bare banks. Status and distribution Frequent from central France southwards and in S Scandi• navia, very local elsewhere. ~ Season 6-9. Club-tailed Dl'"agonfly, female Gomphus pulchellus, male eyes of a typical Gomphid dragonfly Similar species * Ophiogomphus cecilia is rather similar, but Club-tailed Dragonfly has a green ground colour rather than yel• Gomphus vulgatissimus low; the male lacks the strong pincers, and A medium-sized dragonfly, abdomen length the female has 2 small 'horns' on the head. about 35mm. Both sexes are boldly black An eastern species, local from Germany and yellow, but the male has a distinctly and Denmark eastwards. clubbed tail and more black coloration. Legs entirely black. Hairy Hawker Habita~ Breeds in large slow-flowing Brachytron pratense rivers, or occasionally still water, and rarely A medium-large species, with an abdomen moves far from these habitats. length of about 45mm. Males are predomi• Status and distribution Uncommon in nantly black, with paired blue spots on the UK, where it is found from the Mid• almost all abdomen segments, and yellow lands southwards; widespread on the Con• thoracic stripes. Females are browner, ti nent. lacking the stripes, and are conspicuously Season 5-6 in UK, 4-8 elsewhere. hairy. Similar species Habitat Associated with slow-moving or * G. pu/che/lus is a more slender species, still water, such as ditches, canals, ponds more yellow in colour, with black and and lakes. yellow legs. Very local in N Europe, from Status and distribution Local in S Eng• Germany southwards. Common in SW land and Eire, widespread on the Conti• Europe. nent. Particularly associated with coastal * G. flavipes resembles Club-tailed in 'levels' in the UK. colouring, but has black and yellow legs. An Season 5-7. One of the earliest dragon• eastern species, occurring very sparingly flies to appear. 52 ODONATA Emperor Dragonfly in N England, Scotland and Eire; widespread Anax il11!Jcrator and quite common on the Continent. The Emperor is a very large dragonfly, with Season 5-8. an abdomen length of up to 61mm. The Similar species male is predominantly bright blue, with a * Orange-spotted Emerald Oxygastra green thorax and segment I of the ab• curtisii is similar in shape and size, but distin• domen, and a black line along the whole guished by the band of single orange spots abdomen. Females are duller, with similar down the abdomen. A sputhern species, markings but a greenish ground colour. The reasonably common in France, but very rare males hunt more frequently over water elsewhere. Extinct in the UK since 1951. than the hawkers. Habitat A species of still water, occurring Brilliant Emerald in a wide variety of sites including new SOl11atoch/o/'a l11etallica water-bodies. Similar in size to Downy Emerald. Both Status and distribution A common male and female have brilliant emerald• species throughout the S of the area, be• green thorax and abdomen, though the coming rare or absent from central England thorax is covered with yellowish down. and Holland northwards. Distinguishable from Downy Emerald by Season 5-9. the more brilliant metallic coloration,and Similar species the longer male appendages; Downy Emer• * A. parthenope is similar in shape and size, ald has no yellow on its face. but has a brown thorax, is blue on the Habitat Very similar to those of the first few abdominal segments, and is then Downy Emerald. pale greenish-blue on the rest of the Status and distribution Rare in the UK, abdomen. A southern species that only just where it is confined (curiously) to SE Eng• reaches into central Europe where it is land and N Scotland; frequent and wide• uncommon. spread on the Continent. Season 6-9. Downy Emerald Similar species Cordu/ia aenea Northern Emerald S. arctica is very sim• A medium to small dragonfly, with an ilar, differing in the curved calliper-like male abdomen length of about 35mm. In both appendages, the slightly darker colour, and sexes, the thorax is bronze-green and very the orange-yellow spots on the sides of downy, while the abdomen is metallic dark segment 3 of the female's abdomen. Very green. The eyes are green, and the wings are local in boggy places, N Scotland, and scat• clear except for an amber patch at the base. tered through central and N Europe. Habitat Still waters of various types, * S.(favomacufata isvery similar structurally ", especially if slightly acid and partially to the Brilliant Emerald, but has much wooded. They disperse into woodland, but more yellow on the top of the abdomen, ••••• I)uwny Emerald do not usually travel far. and yellow all down the sides. It is wide• Status and distribution Very local in spread on the Continent, though absent Britain, mainly southern, but with outposts from large areas. S6 ODONATA Golden-ringed Dragonfly Status and distribution A common Cordulegaster boltollii species throughout. A very large and conspicuous dragonfly; the Season 5-8. One of the earliest dragon• female has an abdomen up to 65mm long flies to appear. (slightly shorter in the male). Distinctively patterned, primarily blackish-green, with Scarce Chaser yellow thoracic stripes and yellow rings Libellula fulua down the whole abdomen. Eyes green in This species is similar in size to the Broad• both sexes. The female has a prominent bodied Chaser but is more slender. The ovipositor which she uses to stab into the male has a brown unstriped hairy thorax; substrate of the river bottom. the abdomen is pale blue, except for dark Habitat Usually breeds in faster-flowing, colour on segments 1-2 and a diamond• well-oxygenated streams and rivers, shaped patch towards the tip. Only the though adults travel widely. hindwings have a dark patch; compare the Status and distribution Widespread, Broad-bodied Chaser, where all 4 wings though most frequent in upland areas; a have dark patches. northern and western species in Britain. Habitat Breeds in many types of sti IIand Season 5-9. slow-moving waters. Similar species Status and distribution Very local in S * C. bidentata is extremely similar, but is England, but widespread and quite com• less strongly marked with yellow, has a mon on the Continent. black (not yellow) occipital triangle Season 5-8. (between the eyes), and the female has a wholly black ovipositor. An uncommon 4-spotted Chaser species, in hilly areas from Belgium south• Libellula quadrimaculata wards, although it is probably under• Abdomen length about 30mm. A distinctive recorded. species; both sexes are similar, brown in colour overall, but with black on the taper• Broad-bodied Chaser ing abdomen from segment 7 onwards. The Libellula depressa wings each have a spot on the centre of the A short, broad dragonfly, with an abdomen leading edge, in addition to the dark length of about 25mm. Male has a brown pterostigmata, and the triangular patch at thorax with 2 yellowish stripes, and a blue the base of the hindwings. abdomen which has yellow lateral spots for Habitat Most frequently found around most of the insect's life. Female is very still, acid waters, although it is not confined broad, with a brown, yellow-edged ab• to them. domen. All 4 wings have triangular dark Status and distribution Widespread patches at the base. Newly emerged males and common throughout in suitable habi• look very like females, but are slightly less tats, sometimes becoming very abundant. broad-bodied. Large numbers may occasionally migrate, Habitat Occurs around a very wide vari• although this has become less frequent in ety of still and slow-flowing waters, includ• recent decades due to the destruction of ing small ponds. Also wanders widely and suitable habitat. can be found almost anywhere. Season 5-8. 58 000 N A T A Black-tailed Skimmer Continent. Adults tend to remain close to Orthetrum cancel/atum the larval habitat. A small dragonfly, with abdomen 30-35mm Status and distribution A local species long. Male has a brown thorax, and a blue in the UK, where it is strongly south-west• abdomen, except for the tip which has ern; common on the Continent from N black suffusing up as far as the seventh seg• France southwards, scattered and rare ment. Females are overall dull brown, with further N. paired dark curved markings on each Season 5-9. abdominal segment. Similar species Habitat Most frequently seen around still * O. brunneum is similar, but slightly larger, water-bodies of varying acidity, especially and males are wholly pale blue. A southern those with a hard bottom. Adults travel species, common from central France widely and quickly find new habitats, such southwards, rare and local further north. as flooded gravel pits. Status and distribution Virtually con• * Crocothemis erythraea fined to S England within the UK; wide• A small dragonfly, abdomen length up to spread on the Contfnent north to S 29mm, though often less. Males are, how• Scandinavia. ever, strikingly conspicuous by their 'nail• Season 5-9. varnish' red colouring throughout. Females Similar species are dull brown. Both sexes have long, nar• * O. albistylum is similar in general appear• row brown pterostigmas, outlined with ance, but the black tip to the abdomen is black nerves.