Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator
 The largest odonata species in the county.
Readily told by its robust stature, it is unlike the hawkers in having a coloured abdomen (blue in males, green in females) with both vertical and horizontal black stripes. Both sexes have a very striking, bright apple-green thorax, and males have blue eyes.
Status of Emperor Dragonfly in Leicestershire & Rutland
Number of occupied 2km grid squares in Leicestershire & Rutland, up to the end of 2004: 107/720
With just a handful of records prior to 1980 and similarly few in the succeeding decade, this is another species that can be considered a recent colonist to Leicestershire & Rutland.
There has been a huge upsurge in records of this distinctive dragonfly since 1990 and it is now distributed widely through the county in suitable habitat.
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Distribution Map
Emperor Dragonfly 2004 |
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Emperor Dragonfly Habitat
Large ponds, lakes, canals and slow moving rivers are the preferred habitat of the Emperor Dragonfly, particular those with abundant submerged and floating vegetation.
Flight period of Emperor Dragonfly
Emperor Dragonfly Photo Gallery
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