The Four-spotted Chaser: a Photographer's Guide

• By Steve Houghton

I frequently get asked what my favourite species of dragonfly is. That’s a very difficult question for any Odonata enthusiast to answer, but most of us have one. My own is the Four-Spotted Chaser or “Quads” as I call them for short; one of the first species to emerge each season, and a fascinating and very entertaining insect.

What follows is my own guide to the species through the eyes of a dragonfly photographer, nothing too technical with a few hints on how to watch and photograph them thrown in.

Dependant on weather conditions emergence can begin as early as mid-May, though it is more normal for the first individuals to appear towards the end of the month. The larva climb marginal vegetation during the night so emergence can take place during the early morning. This gives the newly emerged adult the best chance of drying out and avoiding predation. Personally I’ve not managed to photograph this yet as emergence has usually occurred before I can finish work in the morning! The exuvia are usually very easy to find in the reeds or up in vegetation close to the water's edge. A little tip here: if you wish to collect exuvia take a small sturdy container with you, they don’t survive in pockets or camera cases very well! The teneral adult is usually to be found only a short distance from its exuvia. They appear to be quite drab, with a thin abdomen and the 'mirror-like' sheen to the wings. Little of the adult markings show through at this stage.

They are very easy to photograph at this stage but a couple of warnings: firstly, try to avoid touching or picking up the insect if possible, as at this stage they are still drying out and are remarkably fragile - any damage you inflict on them however accidental will be permanent.

Secondly, too much dis- turbance to the insect at this stage may cause it to fly prematurely. This will also cause damage and make it very vulnerable to predators. Though very easy to photograph at this stage the position in which they are perched is often not very convenient. I adopt the thinking that I would far rather take an imperfect photo at this crucial time than risk harming the insect, after all, teneral shots of “quads"

Once the tenerals are safely on the wing they tend to move away from water to hunt in relative safety, in woods and over grassland. This is mainly to allow them to mature and to protect them from attack from the sexually active males near to the water that are highly territorial and very aggressive.

Both the male and female “quad” are remarkably alike. Apart from be-havioural differences, the only real way to tell them apart is to study the genitalia at the end of the abdomen. The anal appendages on the female appear straight whilst on the male they tend to curve outwards.

spent just watching a stretch of water will soon reveal the vantage points of the males - it is then just a case of getting yourself into a good position as close to the insect's vantage point as possible. Don’t worry if your arrival scares him off. Just sit and wait; he will be back. This will hopefully allow you to get some very close head-on photos, showing the typical perched stance of the 'quad'.

The adult 'quad' will also spend a great deal of time hunting over grass and other vegetation close to the water. This seems to apply more to the females than the males. Getting pictures of flying “quads” is almost impossible; it would take very fast reflexes, I have tried many times and have ended up with either an empty photo or just a yellow/brown blur!

The best way to photograph the insects away from water is, again, find yourself an area that contains a good number of hunting individuals then stand and watch. You will notice that 'quads' will settle on vegetation at regular intervals during hunting, either to consume a catch or to bask in the sun and watch for passing prey. These insects make fantastic subjects when bathed in sunlight, but caution is needed to get close enough for a good photo. I have found that the best technique is to lower yourself to the height of the perched insect and get as near as possible. This may involve approaching on hands and knees! Try to move towards the subject in a  straight  line with the sun directly behind you if possible. I have found that dragon-flies will, in the main, tolerate you moving stea-dily closer, but will fly off if you move across their field of vision. Beware of casting a shadow on the subject as you get close, as this will also cause them to fly off. If all goes well you will be rewarded with photos showing the full beauty of this simple but magnificent insect.

There is an added attraction to studying the 'quad' in the shape of a scarce form of the species known as praenubila. This form differs from the ordinary 'quad' in the fact the four black spots on the wings take the form of elongated black smudges. There is no clear reason why this occurs and the distribution of praenubila form 'quads' is very sporadic and localised. Sites with similar population densities of 'quads' may or may not contain praenubilas; there seems to be no logical explanation for this.

As the mature insects begin to age and the flight period for the “quad” draws to a close (usually towards the end of July or into early August during a good season), the appearance of the adults alters dramatically. The overall look of the insect becomes much less colourful; the abdomen and thorax can darken to where they seem almost black if seen from a distance or flying past. The yellow markings down the side of the abdomen fade away almost completely. The only yellow that remains is on the insect’s head.

The blood vessels in the wings also darken and constrict, giving the wing a much narrower profile as seen below. This has the effect of changing the way in which they fly; their flight becomes much slower and fluttering in nature. The insect also becomes much less active in general and spends long periods perched in  low  vegetation. I have found at this stage they can be approached easily and even picked up on less sunny days.

Whilst it's sad to see these beautiful insects literally fading away, it is interesting from a photographer’s point of view to record the huge changes this species goes through during its life cycle. With the exception of Black-tailed Skimmer and Common Darter there are few species that undergo such drastic changes in appearance in their short lives.

Towards the end of their life the 'quads' start to become very dishevelled in appearance, as a consequence of the shrinkage and hardening of their wings.

Pieces of the wing begin to wear off, further inhibiting their ability to fly. It is usually at this point that most die and there is a massive decline in the population. For me this is always a time of mixed emotion, as the 'quad' is present for such a large part of the dragonfly season that its final demise is a sure sign that the best part of the season has come to an end. On the other hand there is the challenge of finding the very last specimen of the season.

I think one of the greatest benefits of being a dragonfly photographer, aside from the countless hours spent in the warm sunshine studying these magnificent insects, is the fact that you not only have the memories of the season in your mind, but also visually in the form of your photos. Even in the darkest depths of winter it is possible to be back amongst the 'quads' at the click of a mouse.

Hopefully reading this will increase your interest in this fantastic but sadly often over-looked dragonfly. Who knows, it may even inspire you to pick up a camera and have a go yourself!