Both sexes have a brown ground colour becoming darker over the head and almost orange on the sides of the thorax. The posterior half of the abdomen is black with the sides of the abdomen edged... More
British Dragonflies
British Dragonflies on Wild About Britain include the latest UK dragonfly news, hundreds of British dragonfly images photos in our photo gallery, lots of dragonfly conversations in the insects forums, a directory of dragonfly-related organisations and websites, as well as a big reference encyclopedia with information on everything from the Hairy Dragonfly and the Migrant Hawker to the Orange-spotted Emerald and the Black-tailed Skimmer.
Encyclopedia of British Dragonflies
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Emerald | Somatochlora arctica |
The Northern Emerald has bluish-green (sometimes yellowish) eyes. The wings are faintly suffused... more |
| Banded Darter | Sympetrum pedemontanum |
A small darter with black legs and broad hind wings. Both sexes have a brown band across each... more |
| Orange-spotted Emerald | Oxygastra curtisii |
The Orange-spotted Emerald has bright green eyes and yellow or orange, elongated spots along the... more |
| Four-spotted Chaser | Libellula quadrimaculata |
Both sexes have a brown ground colour becoming darker over the head and almost orange on the... more |
| Southern Hawker | Aeshna cyanea |
A large, inquisitive Hawker usually seen individually. It may fly quite close to investigate... more |
Identification of British Dragonflies
 Cordulegaster boltonii |
 Brachytron pratense |
 Sympetrum fonscolombei |
 Somatochlora arctica |
Featured Species
Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata |