Emperor Dragonfly

Description:

When they first emerge, both sexes appear pale green with brown markings. The legs are brown with a yellow like base. Wings are born black but grow yellow-brown with age. Males have a sky blue abdomen marked with a diagnostic black dorsal stripe and an apple green thorax. The thorax and head of a male is green and their prominent eyes are blue. Females have similar markings but they are mainly green

Habitat:

They breed in a variety of aquatic habitats from large ponds to dykes, but they require a plentiful supply of vegetation in the water. The females lay the eggs into plants such as pondweed, and always lay alone.

Notes:

This one had newly emerged from its larval case. Its home is a man-made natural swimming pool we've been working on as part of out 'Artecology' range of works designed to bring people closer to nature.