There are 36 different dragonflies in the UK. Which species have you spotted?
What dragonfly species will you find in the UK?
Dragonflies are sturdy, with chunky thoraxes and thick bodies. They're strong, fast, and agile with large eyes that meet on top of the head.
Here are the dragonfly species you're most likely to see along our canals and rivers.
Downy emerald dragonfly
Cordulia aenea
Downy emerald dragonflies are metallic green-bronze and have bright green eyes. Males have a slightly slimmer waist than females.
You'll likely see a downy emerald patrolling still, tree-lined waters from late April to August. Although they're not particularly widespread, most are spotted in central and southern England.
Emperor dragonfly
Anax imperator
One of the largest species in the UK, the emperor dragonfly measures 7.8cm long. Males are pale blue with a green thorax and black stripe along the body. Females are a slightly duller blue. Both have green-blue eyes and are recognised by their impressive size.
Emperor dragonflies are widespread in England and Wales, often found by canals from May to October. They're rarely far from water.
The impressively large emperor dragonfly often eats its prey while in flight.
Common clubtail dragonfly
Gomphus vulgatissimus
Unusually for a dragonfly, the common clubtail's eyes do not meet on the top of the head. They have distinctive yellow and black markings, although males turn green as they mature.
Common clubtail dragonflies are common in the south of England and Wales but are limited to a few rivers, including the River Severn.
Keeled skimmer dragonfly
Orthetrum coerulescens
Male-keeled skimmer dragonflies have a clear wing base and a slender, blue abdomen. Females have a black marking on their yellow-brown abdomen.
Keeled skimmers are present across the UK, commonly found in the southwest around heathland, streams, and shallow water. They emerge in May but are most spotted from June to August.
Common darter dragonfly
Sympetrum striolatum
As the name suggests, common darter dragonflies are widespread throughout the UK. Males are orange-red, and females are yellow. Both sexes have a brown thorax. You'll see common darters from May to September – and a few may even still be in flight as late as November.
The common darter dragonfly is one of the most common species in Europe. Photo by Jack Perks.
Black darter dragonfly
Sympetrum danae
Darting and skittish in flight, black darter dragonflies are small and black with yellow markings. Females are more yellow all over. They're the smallest dragonfly in the UK.
Black darter dragonflies are common throughout England and Wales and often found around bodies of water, in moorland and heathland. They're on the wing from June to October.
Red-veined darter dragonfly
Sympetrum fonscolombii
Red-veined darter dragonflies are present across most of the UK and found by still water.
Males have a deep red thorax with a pale stripe and red-veined wings. Females are yellow with yellow-veined wings. Red-veined darter dragonflies are distinguished by the blue on the lower half of their eyes.
Red-veined darter dragonflies are on the wing from late May to October.
Ruddy darter dragonfly
Sympetrum sanguineum
Ruddy darter dragonflies are widespread and rarely found too far from water. Males are blood-red with black legs and slightly shorter than the common darter. Females are yellow with black legs and a 'T' mark on the thorax.
Ruddy darter dragonflies are often seen from June to October, but their main flight period is in July and August.
Ruddy darters tend to prefer quieter bodies of water.
Black-tailed skimmer dragonfly
Orthetrum cancellatum
Black-tailed skimmer dragonflies have clear wing bases and a tapered abdomen. Males are blue with black tips, and females are yellow with black stripes. Both sexes have dulled green eyes. The larvae can take several years to mature.
You might often see a black-tailed skimmer perched on the ground around wetland habitats, including ponds, lakes, and canals. Black-tailed skimmers are on the wing from May to October.
Broad-bodied chaser dragonfly
Libellula depressa
The broad-bodied chaser dragonfly is distinguished by its wide and flat abdomen, which is blue in males and yellow-brown in females. Broad-bodied chasers have dark markings at the wing bases.
You'll see broad-bodied chaser dragonflies from April to September around water.
Four-spotted chaser dragonfly
Libellula quadrimaculata
Four-spotted chaser dragonflies are mostly brown, with a black tip to the tail and yellow sides. They have two black spots on each wing.
These dragonflies are found throughout the UK from May to September, preferring still water.
Four-spotted chasers are active creatures, hunting over water for prey or marking their territory.
Golden-ringed dragonfly
Cordulegaster boltonii
Golden-ringed dragonflies are the longest in the UK, measuring up to 8.4cm. This large dragonfly is a voracious predator and will even eat other dragonflies, as well as damselflies, wasps, beetles, and bees.
Golden-ringed dragonflies are black with yellow bands and green eyes. Females are slightly longer and thinner than males to account for their long ovipositor. Larvae may spend as much as five years underwater before maturing.
Brown hawker dragonfly
Aeshna grandis
Brown hawker dragonflies are large and mostly brown with golden-washed wings. They have two yellow stripes on the thorax and blue spots on the body. Some females have yellow spots.
Brown hawkers are found across the UK from June to October, often hunting along woodlands and meadows by water. These dragonflies particularly like well-vegetated canals and are aggressively defensive of their territory.
Migrant hawker dragonfly
Aeshna mixta
Migrant hawker dragonflies have a short body and are brown with yellow stripes. They have a distinctive upward-pointing abdomen. Males have blue spots, while females have yellow ones. Both sexes are identifiable by their yellow 'T' marking on the abdomen.
Migrant hawkers migrate each summer, often seen by water from July to November.
The migrant hawker dragonfly can sometimes be seen feeding in large groups.
Southern hawker dragonfly
Aeshna cyanea
Male southern hawker dragonflies have black bodies with green and blue markings. Females are dark brown and can have yellow markings. Both sexes are distinguished by the pale patches on their thorax.
These large dragonflies are inquisitive insects and will often approach and hover to observe you.
Southern hawkers are commonly found patrolling woodland edges along canals and are on the wing from May to October.
Common hawker dragonfly
Aeshna juncea
Common hawker dragonflies are dark with small spots and yellow veins on the wing. Males are mostly black with blue spots, while females are brown with yellow or green spots.
These dragonflies are found in the north and west and are absent from the east of England. Common hawkers are on the wing from late June to October.
The common hawker dragonfly is typically found in the uplands of the north and west.
Hairy dragonfly
Brachytron pratense
Hairy dragonflies are small with a hairy thorax and blue spots on the abdomen. Females have yellow spots.
The hairy dragonfly is often found among water-side vegetation and along canals from April to July. They're the first dragonfly to emerge. Until recently, hairy dragonflies were a rare sight in the UK.
