Dragonflies

The Order of dragonflies, Odonata, from the Greek odontos 'tooth', is further divided into 2 sub-orders:

• True dragonflies (as opposed to damselflies) belong to the sub-order Anisoptera, meaning 'unequal-winged';
• Whilst damselflies belong to the sub-order Zygoptera, meaning 'paired wings'.

Dragonflies are generally larger than damselflies, are strong fliers and at rest will hold their wings out from the body, usually at 90 degrees. Their eyes are very large and often touch, though sometimes this only at a point. The hind wings are generally shorter and broader than the forewings, hence the sub-order name. Males tend to have a 'waisted' abdomen, whilst the abdomen of females is broader in appearance.

The sub-order Anisoptera contains several families of dragonfly:

• Hawkers - Aeshnidae;
• Golden-ringed dragonflies - Cordulegastridae;
• Emeralds - Corduliidae;
• Club-tailed dragonflies - Gomphidae;
• Chasers, Skimmers and Darters - Libellulidae.

There are about 30 species to be seen in Great Britain and Ireland, but their distribution varies greatly. Some are abundant and widespread, whilst others are restricted to small areas of a particular habitat.

On this page, there are some images of the various species of dragonfly that I have been fortunate to see, identify and photograph.

Most photographs are taken with a Canon 450D fitted with a 300mm prime lens, hand held. Other than reducing the file size to improve the speed of loading and display, all images are 'as is'. That's warts and all, no sniff of digital enhancement or post production editing. If it looks rubbish, you now know why!

Hawkers

Hairy Dragonfly, Brachytron pratense

Azure Hawker, Aeshna caerulea

Female briefly resting on track, Beinn Eighe NNR, Ross-shire, Jul 2012

Southern Hawker, Aeshna cyanea

Female ovipositing in a garden pond, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Aug 2013

Brown Hawker, Aeshna grandis

Male resting in the sun, RSPB Ham Wall, Somerset, Sep 2013

Norfolk Hawker, Aeshna isosceles

Common Hawker, Aeshna juncea

Migrant Hawker, Aeshna mixta

Male feeding on a damselfly, Shapwick Heath NNR, Somerset, Sep 2013

Emperor Dragonfly, Anax imperator

Female resting in the sun, Westhay Moor NNR, Somerset, Sep 2013

Golden-ringed dragonflies

Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Cordulegaster boltonii

Male resting between foraging flights, Westonbury Mill water gardens, Herefordshire, Sep 2013

Female roosting, Beinn Eighe NNR, Ross-shire, Jul 2012

Male roosting, Beinn Eighe NNR, Jul 2012

Emeralds

Downy Emerald, Cordulia aenea

Brilliant Emerald, Somatochlora metallica

Northern Emerald, Somatochlora arctica

Male resting in the sun, Slattadale Forest, Ross-shire, Jul 2012

Male resting in the sun, Slattadale Forest, Ross-shire, Jul 2012

Club-tailed Dragonflies

Common Club-tail, Gomphus vulgatissimus

Libellulids

Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa

Four-spotted Chaser, Libellula quadrimaculata

Scarce Chaser, Libellula fulva

Black-tailed Skimmer, Orthetrum cancellatum

Female basking in sunshine, Westhay Moor NNR, Sep 2013

Keeled Skimmer, Orthetrum coerulescens

Common Darter, Sympetrum striolatum

Female resting in the sun, Westhay Moor NNR, Sep 2013

Ruddy Darter, Sympetrum sanguineum

Male resting in the sun, RSPB Ham Wall, Sep 2013

Black Darter, Sympetrum danae

White-faced Darter, Leuchorrhinia dubia