The Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)

Emperor Dragonfly

This is perhaps one of the United Kingdom's most majestic dragon-flies. The mature male exhibits a vibrant blue abdomen & can be seen patrolling over water-side margins. They are truely unmistakable.

The female is slightly duller and is somewhat greener in appearance.
This dragonfly can be seen from early June through to September, They are widespread
in the southern half of the United Kingdom.

The Emporer is one of our largest indigenous dragonflies & it seems to spend a huge amount of its time on the wing.
 
When they do settle it is often in very dense vegetation low to the ground, this makes an approach very difficult indeed. In hot weather they are prone to bask on gorse bushes or like vegetation.