Home Species Where To See Links Blog Contact The species pages give a brief description followed by observed behaviour patterns, a flight chart, where to see and a link to a photo gallery. With the wealth of identification information available through books, websites etc I've concentrated on species behaviour patterns to further aid identification in the field, along with some choice examples experienced over the years. Please click on thumbnail for more details Anisoptera - Dragonflies Dragonflies are insects in the sub-order Anisoptera (meaning "unequal-winged"). Hind wings are usually shorter and broader than forewings. They are usually large, strongly flying insects that can often be found flying well away from water. When at rest, they hold their wings out from the body, often at right angles to it. The eyes are very large and usually touch, at least at a point. Aeshnidae - Hawker Dragonflies Large, fast-flying dragonflies. Often found feeding and roosting far from water. Hangs vertically when perched. Blue-eyed Hawker A medium-large (57 - 66mm), colourful migrant preferring well-vegetated shallow still waters which mostly dry out during summer.. A frequent visitor to the Thames basin in summer. Southern Hawker A large (70mm), colourful and inquisitive hawker preferring well-vegetated still waters, but may be found far from water on heaths and along forest rides Brown Hawker A large (73mm), fast and elusive hawker obvious golden brown wings. Preferring slow-flowing mud-based rivers, but may be found patrolling nearby lakes, ponds and streams. Green-eyed  Hawker A large, (63mm) hawker similar to the Brown Hawker but with clear wings and stunning green eyes. Currently only found in low-lying grazing meadows. fems & ditches in East Anglia and west Kent. Moorland Hawker A large (65-80mm) hawker preferring moorland and mountain pools. Scarce in Hampshire but an occasional visitor to the New Forest where it can be found patrolling shallow acid ponds. Migrant Hawker A small (63mm) hawker found in large numbers patrolling well-vegetated water bodies. Emperor Dragonfly A large (78mm) and active dragonfly preferring well-vegetated standing water but may be found along canals and rivers. Lesser Emperor Similar to our own native Emperor Dragonfly but smaller and not as vibrant  There is a bright blue "saddle" at S2 is very noticeable, even in flight. The rest of the abdomen and the thorax is brown while the eyes are bright green.   Hairy Dragonfly A relatively small (55mm) hawker and the first hawker on the wing. Preferring unpolluted, well-vegetated water bodies. Cordulegastridae - Golden-ringed Dragonflies Unmistakenly-marked large dragonfly   Golden-ringed Dragonfly  A large (male-74mm, female-84mm) and impressive dragonfly, preferring acidic rivers and streams of all sizes.  Corduliidae - Emerald Dragonflies Metallic green with characteristic green eyes   Downy Emerald A moderately sized (48mm) dragonfly with a downy thorax and metallic green body with a copper sheen.   Brilliant Emerald A moderately sized (48mm)dragonfly superficially similar to Downy Emerald but with a more obvious metallic green body and apple green eyes. Gomphidae - Club-tailed Dragonflies Medium-sized with yellow & black markings   Common Club-tail  This is a medium-sized (50mm) dragonfly with both sexes having a noticeably clubbed tail.   Libellulidae - Chasers, Skimmers and Darters Small to medium-sized dragonflies usually found in large numbers. Usually perch low down and close to water     White-faced Darter The White-faced Darter is a small (33-37mm) dark dragonfly, with a pale creamy white frons.   Black Darter A small (29-34mm) moorland dragonfly found in peat moss and heaths, breeding in ponds, bog pools and drainage ditches. Can be found in large numbers locally.   Red-veined Darter This medium-sized (38-40mm) is a fairly frequent migrant to the UK and can be found at suitable sites along the south coast in reasonable numbers.   Ruddy Darter A very localised medium-sized (34-36mm) dragonfly which is superficially similar to the Common Darter.   Common Darter A very common medium-sized (34-36mm) dragonfly which is usually found in ponds and other still, or even brackish waters. Broad-bodied Chaser A broad, stocky dragonfly (39-48mm) usually found in large numbers in ponds and perched along pondside edges.   Scarce Chaser A medium-sized ( 40-49mm) dragonfly of lowland river floodplains.   Four-spotted Chaser A stocky medium-sized (39-48mm) dragonfly found in ponds and perched along pond edges.   Black-tailed Skimmer A medium-sized (44-49mm) dragonfly found at many man-made open water such as gravel pits and old quarries.   Keeled Skimmer A medium-sized (40-44mm) dragonfly found in heathland ponds and streams often perched among the heather. Zygoptera - Damselflies

Damselflies are insects in the sub-order Zygoptera - meaning paired-wings. All four wings are near enough equal in size and shape. They are usually small, weakly flying insects that stay close to the water margins or water surface. When at rest, all species except the Emeralds hold their wings along the length of their abdomen. The eyes are always separated, never touching Calopterygidae - Demoiselles Large damselflies with metallic green or blue bodies and dark wings.   Banded Demoiselle A large (45mm) damselfly preferring slow-flowing lowland streams and rivers. Numbers can be very high at prime locations. .     Beautiful Demoiselle The other species of large (45mm) damselfly in Britain to have obviously coloured wings. Preferring sandy bottomed streams and rivers.    Coenagrionidae - Red and Blue Damselflies Small to medium-sized damselflies often seen in large numbers were present.   Small Red Damselfly One of our smallest (31mm) damselflies preferring shallow pools, seepages and streams in heathland bog.   Southern Damselfly One of our rarer damselflies, preferring base-rich runnels and streams often within acid heathland and chalk stream water meadows.   Azure Damselfly One of the larger (33mm) blue damselflies. Seen in most habitats including ponds, streams and larger water bodies where they are often found in swarms. Variable Damselfly The Variable Damselfly is a reasonable large (33mm) damselfly superficially similar to the Azure and both species may be found in the same habitat.   Common Blue Britains most widespread damselfly. Found in most water bodies and surrounding heaths, meadows and woodland.      Red-eyed A robust and conspicuous damselfly, found in lakes, gravel pits, canals and slow-flowing rivers often perched on water lillies and other surface vegetation.   Small Red-eyed Considerably smaller (29mm) than the larger Red-eyed and not as widespread.   Blue-tailed A common and attractive damselfly found in a wide range of lowland habitats including brackish or polluted water.   Scarce Blue-tailed Considerably smaller (29mm) than the larger Blue-tailed and not as widespread. Can reach large numbers where found. Preferring warm, shallow pools with emergent vegetation.   Large Red A large (36mm) and active red damselfly with black legs and a bronze-black top to the thorax which has broad red or yellow stripes. Lestidae - Emerald Damselflies Metallic green damselflies   Southern Emerald   A slim, metallic green emerald which turns bronze as it matures. Broad, pale ante-humeral stripes on the thorax and pale behind the head. The pterostigma is bi-coloured. Males become pruinescent only on abdominal segment S10.   Scarce Emerald   A medium sized emerald damselfly which usually rests with its wings half open. Adult males have blue eyes and powder blue pruinescence on the thorax between the wings and on S2 and S8.   Common Emerald   A large (38mm) and attractive metallic green damselfly which unusually perches with its wings half-open.   Willow Emerald   Larger and bulkier than the Common Emerald. Metallic green with no blue pruinescence on the male.The pterostigma is pale brown with a black border. The male upper appendages are distinctively pale (like the sides of the thorax) with dark tips. Platycnemididae - White-legged Damselflies Pale blue or white damselflies     White-legged Damselfly A medium-sized (37mm) damselfly with white legs and a narrow head. Preferred habitats are slow-flowing rivers and streams with an abundance of bank-side foliage.