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Tag Archives: Libellula depressa

Happy hour

25 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by sconzani in insects, nature

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

British dragonflies, Broad-bodied Chaser, dragonflies, dragonfly, female Broad-bodied Chaser, Lavernock Nature Reserve, Libellula depressa, Odonata

170725 Broad-bodied chaser (1)

These stunning female Broad-bodied chasers (Libellula depressa) were at the pond at Lavernock Nature Reserve today. Watching them fly, perch, and lay their eggs was an hour very well spent. Bliss!

170725 Broad-bodied chaser (2)

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Chasing the chasers

04 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by sconzani in insects, nature, nature photography

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

British dragonflies, Broad-bodied Chaser, dragonfly, Libellula depressa

It’s dragonfly time!

170604 Broad-bodied chasers (1)

Just when the birds disappear behind the trees’ leafy boughs, the dragonflies emerge to take their place in Nature’s line-up of masterly aviators.

170604 Broad-bodied chasers (2)

Earlier this week I spent over 30 minutes watching these magnificent Broad-bodied chasers (Libellula depressa), two males circling and defending their territories from each other, keeping watch from their favourite perches, mating with two females, and those females then depositing their eggs amongst the water plants. It was magical!

170604 Broad-bodied chasers (3)

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The B-B C, but not as you know it

26 Sunday Jun 2016

Posted by sconzani in insects, nature

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Broad-bodied Chaser, dragonflies, dragonfly, dragonfly ovipositing, Libellula depressa, National Insect Week

For this last day of National Insect Week 2016 we have one of my favourite types of insect, the dragonfly. Meet the Broad-bodied Chasers (or Libellula depressa to the scientifically minded). If we’re being politically correct, we won’t call them fat – they just happen to be a bit wider in the body than most other dragonflies. Both male and female start off a golden brown colour, but Mr B-B C soon develops a rather dapper layer of blue powdery granules (pruinescence) which matches perfectly with the yellow dots they both have along the sides of their abdomens.

160626 Broad-bodied chaser male

I’ve seen two pairs of Broad-bodied Chasers so far this year, both around small ponds which the males regularly patrol to ensure no intrusions into their territories. I’ve also been privileged to see them mating, a rather brief in-flight encounter, and then to see the female ovipositing – dipping her lower abdomen quickly into the water while in flight, to deposit her eggs into vegetation below the water level (as shown in the photos below). If you’re in southern England or Wales, these beauties will be around till September so go check out the show.

160626 Broad-bodied chaser female ovipositing

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About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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