Dragonflies along the Woodland Edge

 Dragonflies are one of the top predators in the insect world. When you watch them flying along the woodland edge hunting for prey, it is easy to see why they have names like Hawker, Chaser and Darter.

Here are some images of these stunning creatures taken during the last few weeks.

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) (male)

Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) (male)

Scarce Chaser (L. fulva) (immature male)

Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) (male)

Black-tailed Skimmer (O. cancellatum) (immature male)

Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) (male)

Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isosceles)

In the UK, the Norfolk Hawker populations were only to be found in the Norfolk Broads and have seemingly been stuck there for many decades. However, within the last decade or so, isosceles has been breeding in north Kent and in 2018, I myself witnessed how numerous this species has become along the Suffolk coast around Aldeburgh. In recent years, isosceles has been recorded in Sussex and this year I have seen several flying around in my local East Sussex woods. 

To me, it seems highly unlikely that isosceles has started to spread out from its Norfolk haunts. It is a common species in Europe and it is much more likely that it has followed several other species across the channel to set up home in south-east England.

Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isosceles)

(male)

(female)

Scarce Chaser

 Within Sussex, the Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) has traditionally been a species of the west of the county, only rarely venturing eastwards. However, over the last decade or so it has been establishing itself in East Sussex and can regularly be seen in Wealden woods within the vice-county. It is also known to be breeding on at least one East Sussex river.

I first encountered this species in a local East Sussex wood back in 2012 and last week I enjoyed a second encounter.

Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) (female) 

Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietis)

Green Silver-lines (Pseudoips prasinana)

Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala)

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana) (male)