Dragonflies Made Easy

Fewer than 20 species occur in Brecknock.

They emerge at different times of year and in different habitats.

Several are quite unlike any others.

They can be closely approached. When they fly off they often return to favourite perches.

If you take digital photos you can identify them at leisure, or email them to me if you need help.

To see the latest sightings, visit www.dragonflysoc.org.uk and look at Hot News. This British Dragonfly Society site includes pictures and accounts of all UK Species.

The book which I use is "Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland" by S. Brooks and R. Lewington, British Wildlife Publishing. A new edition of "Britain's Dragonflies" by D. Smallshire and A. Swash is also recommended.

Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Damselflies are smaller than dragonflies, weaker flyers, and unlike dragonflies they close their wings over their backs when they come to rest. This is the only damsel in Brecknock which is red. Look for it from early May at ponds and various other water bodies.

Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa

This stout dragonfly can move fast but spends a long time at rest. Males are light blue, or gold like females when they first emerge. Look for them from mid-May at ponds and ditches.

Four-spotted Chaser: medium-sized, compact, brown, with distinctive dark marks at the base of the wings and on the middle of the leading edge. Males defend territories actively in a wide range of still or slow-flowing waters. (Female and immature male Broad-bodied Chasers are "fatter" and lack the mid-wing spots.)

Blue-tailed Damselfly: the name says it all. This is a common widespread species. The only similar damsel is the Scarce Blue-tailed which likes shallow open pools such as those around the Mountain Centre at Libanus. See the BDS site or a book for differences.

Azure and Common Blue Damsels need a close look. They are common and widespread, often at the same sites. Males are usually more conspicuous and distinctive. Note the black markings at the base and tail end of the blue abdomen. I think of the Common Blue (lower picture) as carrying a table tennis bat, and it also lacks a dark line on the side of the thorax. (The similar Variable Damselfly occurs with these two at Llangorse Lake, possibly elsewhere. Again, carefully note the shape of the abdomen markings; the blue stripes on top of the thorax are usually broken.)

Demoiselles (Beautiful & Banded): metallic-bodied damsels which like clean flowing water. Males will display from riverside vegetation, the Beautiful showing all-dark wings, and the Banded dark blotches. The females are green; Beautiful has brownish wings, Banded greenish.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly: A striking black and yellow insect which prefers small streams and bogs in the hills.

Emperor: The big male is bright blue with green eyes and thorax and patrols his patch, sometimes hovering between dashing bursts of speed. There is a narrow black stripe down the "spine", broader on the green female.

Southern Hawker: As large as the Emperor but basically black, with green marks on each segment above, and blue spots on the sides of the male. This species will breed in small ponds, as in my own garden, and may permit close watching.

Common Darter, a medium-sized dragonfly, males red, females gold or shaded grey or brown. Often present in some numbers and lasting even into November.

Emerald Damsel, basically green, spends much time perched with wings half open. The male has blue eyes and light blue dusting at the base and "tail" of the abdomen.

Keith Noble, Dragonfly Recorder.