Broad-bodied Chaser

Name: Broad-bodied Chaser

Scientific name: Libellula depressa

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 50

What are nature stars?

About: A medium-sized, broad bodied dragonfly, up to 6.5cm long. The male has a powder blue body with yellow spots along the sides, and a dark thorax. The female is greeny-brown instead of blue. On the wing from the end of May to August. A common dragonfly of ponds and small lakes.

How to identify: There are several medium sized, pale blue dragonflies that can be confused. This species can be told the combination of a broad body, blue right to the tip and chocolate brown eyes.

Where: Southern and central England and south Wales.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 70
• Agility: 80
• Rarity: 40
• Cute factor: 30
• Traveller: 50

Fantastic fact: Often the first dragonfly to arrive and breed in garden ponds.

Photograph credit: Dave