Emperor Dragonfly

Name: Emperor Dragonfly

Scientific name: Anax imperator

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 50

What are nature stars?

About: A very large hawker-type dragonfly, almost 11cm long. Males are pale blue, with a pale green thorax and a black stripe running the length of the body. Females are similar, but duller greeny blue. On the wing from June to August. A common dragonfly of large ponds and lakes, as well as canals and ditches. Not often found away from water.

How to identify: Easily recognised by the combination of size and mostly blue colour.

Where: Found in central and southern England and south Wales.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 70
• Agility: 80
• Rarity: 30
• Cute factor: 30
• Traveller: 20

Fantastic fact: A characteristic dragonfly of new ponds and gravel pits, where for the first few years the larvae can be extremely common.

Photograph credit: Photo credit tbc