The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Wildlife => Topic started by: Penninehillbilly on July 07, 2012, 02:32:56 pm

Title: Dragonfly ?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on July 07, 2012, 02:32:56 pm

Hi
Just wondered if anyone can ID this 'fly'
I thught it was a dragonfly but dragonflies seem to have thinner bodies.
It was in the polytunnel, too high for me to catch, when I went down at dusk unfortunately it was caught in a web, perhaps weakened by being trapped in the poly for the day.  :(

Title: Re: Dragonfly ?
Post by: Sylvia on July 07, 2012, 02:37:58 pm

It certainly looks like a dragonfly, there are so many varieties. You may find him on Google.

Title: Re: Dragonfly ?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on July 07, 2012, 03:00:51 pm

Thanks - the pictures I have all have very thin bodies, I though there would be too many to be able to pick out this one, but it appears to be a male
'Broad-bodied Chaser (a dragonfly) Libellula depressa'.
I like to know these things  ;D
 

Title: Re: Dragonfly ?
Post by: Fleecewife on July 07, 2012, 04:23:22 pm

That's the chap  :thumbsup:   My book (Collins Complete British Wildlife)  says 'common only in south of England' so if you are in the Pennines he's less usual there.   Were you able to rescue him from the cobweb?

Title: Re: Dragonfly ?
Post by: jaykay on July 07, 2012, 07:40:02 pm

Some dragonflies do have quite thick bodies - my Dad called them 'darters', don't know if anyone else does  :D

Are the very thin ones damselflies?

Title: Re: Dragonfly ?
Post by: Penninehillbilly on July 07, 2012, 09:24:59 pm

Quote from: Fleecewife on July 07, 2012, 04:23:22 pm

That's the chap  :thumbsup:   My book (Collins Complete British Wildlife)  says 'common only in south of England' so if you are in the Pennines he's less usual there.   Were you able to rescue him from the cobweb?

Sadly too late  :(

Title: Re: Dragonfly ?
Post by: Fleecewife on July 08, 2012, 12:05:14 pm

Quote from: penninehillbilly on July 07, 2012, 09:24:59 pm

Quote from: Fleecewife on July 07, 2012, 04:23:22 pm

That's the chap  :thumbsup:   My book (Collins Complete British Wildlife)  says 'common only in south of England' so if you are in the Pennines he's less usual there.   Were you able to rescue him from the cobweb?

Sadly too late  :(

 :(  rip Chaser

Title: Re: Dragonfly ?
Post by: Bramblecot on August 07, 2012, 07:37:19 pm

 but it appears to be a male
'Broad-bodied Chaser (a dragonfly) Libellula depressa'.
I like to know these things  ;D


The colour is a stunning pale blue.  One year (in Essex) we had one with a torn wing and I watched him for weeks all over the summer. He always came back to the same area of the pond, and had favourite perching spots.  I think they must have territories as I have only ever seen one or two at a time.  The females are a completely different colour - dark green.