Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense
 Also known as Hairy Hawker. A medium-large dragonfly, unlikely to be confused with other hawker species due to its early flight period. However care should be taken to eliminate teneral chasers, which, although they are disimilar in structure and markings, can show a surprisingly hairy thorax. As the name suggests, a close view will reveal a noticeably downy abdomen. Males are blackish with small blue spots, blue eyes, and apple green sides to the thorax. Females duller, with brownish thorax and yellow abdomen spots. Both sexes have very long anal apendages (at the tip of the abdomen).
Status of Hairy Dragonly in Leicestershire & Rutland
Number of occupied 2km grid squares in Leicestershire & Rutland, up to the end of 2004: 9/720
Having undergone a significant range expansion across southern Britain, the Hairy Dragonfly was first recorded in in 1993. Since this date it has been recorded at just a handful of scattered localities, though due to its early flight period it may still be under recorded.
The stronghold for this species remains the Grantham Canal, where, together with two other locations, breeding has now been confirmed. |
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Distribution Map
Hairy Dragonfly 2004 |
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Hairy Dragonly Habitat
The Hairy Dragonfly prefers still water sites with large amounts of emergent vegetation. Grantham Canal is by far the best site to check, but the first breeding record from 2004 concerned 16 individuals which emerged over a month-long period from a 4m x 2m garden pond in suburban Oadby, so anything is possible!
Flight period of Hairy Dragonfly
Hairy Dragonfly is the earliest hawker dragonfly to emerge, usually in early to mid-May.
Hairy Dragonfly Photo Gallery
More Information
- See Ian Merrill's article about the first confirmed breeding of Hairy Dragonflies here.
- See Steve Houghton's article about a Hairy Dragonfly at Wicken Fen, Cambs, here.
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