Dragonfly-Days
.....for South Wales Dragonfly enthusiasts
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Dragonflies - Chasers/Skimmers/Darters. Damselflies Page
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata
| Flight season late April to mid September |
Although not the most colourful of the dragonfly tribe, the Four-spotted Chaser does have a most interesting wing pattern, deriving it's name from the patches on the leading edges of both fore and hind wings, both wings are also suffused with amber.
It's hard to distinguish between the sexes, but they are hard to confuse with any other species, perhaps only rather mature Female Broad-bodied Chaser could cause identification problems.
The males have favourite perching places, usually in medium high foliage, and old dead stalks seem to provide the ideal territorial perch to launch attacks against rival males, they are very aggresive.
It's hard to distinguish between the sexes, but they are hard to confuse with any other species, perhaps only rather mature Female Broad-bodied Chaser could cause identification problems.
The males have favourite perching places, usually in medium high foliage, and old dead stalks seem to provide the ideal territorial perch to launch attacks against rival males, they are very aggresive.
Often found in good numbers where conditions are favourable, acidic waters on both moorland and heathland can hold good populations, but they are not too fussy and most water types, including recently built ornamental garden ponds are quickly colonised.
I have watched them on warm summer evenings on the Gwent Levels hunting along the hedgerows for insect prey in quite good numbers, gliding the warm air currents effortlessly and turning acute angles before catching their unlucky victims.
They often return to their favourite perch, this can often be a big advantage when 'stalking' for photo's.
I have watched them on warm summer evenings on the Gwent Levels hunting along the hedgerows for insect prey in quite good numbers, gliding the warm air currents effortlessly and turning acute angles before catching their unlucky victims.
They often return to their favourite perch, this can often be a big advantage when 'stalking' for photo's.
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa
| Flight season lasts from May until August |
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
| Flight season May until late September |
No species has greater colour differences than the Broad-bodied Chaser, and the novice dragonfly spotter can be forgiven for thinking they are two totally different species. The adult female is a lovely yellow amber colour, while the male is a pale blue.
One confusion can be in thinking that immature males are females, owing to them being yellowish. The females at all stages have a shorter broader body than the longer slimmer males.
The males can be confused with male Black-tailed Skimmer, but the latter has more black on it's tail.
One confusion can be in thinking that immature males are females, owing to them being yellowish. The females at all stages have a shorter broader body than the longer slimmer males.
The males can be confused with male Black-tailed Skimmer, but the latter has more black on it's tail.
The aggressively territorial males perch on a suitable plant, leaving to chase off rivals, only to return to the same perch a short time later.
Most standing water can support fair numbers of Broad-bodied Chasers, they're common throughout the South Wales area that this website covers.
I have always found females easier to approach and photograph than males, which is probably because the males are so active chasing off rival males entering their territory, both sexes make wonderful subject's.
Most standing water can support fair numbers of Broad-bodied Chasers, they're common throughout the South Wales area that this website covers.
I have always found females easier to approach and photograph than males, which is probably because the males are so active chasing off rival males entering their territory, both sexes make wonderful subject's.
Females are yellow with two black abdominal stripes, brownish eyes, yellow costa and black pterostigma. Males are blue bodied with black tails, greenish blue eyes and olive thorax.
This medium sized dragonfly frequents lakes, ponds, and slow flowing waters that have open areas that allow basking, often this species can be found on bare earth or gravel paths.
Often seen 'skimming' the water surface near to shore or bankside or seeing off other males from a favoured perch such as a rock, stone or log. Males are highly protective of territory.
This medium sized dragonfly frequents lakes, ponds, and slow flowing waters that have open areas that allow basking, often this species can be found on bare earth or gravel paths.
Often seen 'skimming' the water surface near to shore or bankside or seeing off other males from a favoured perch such as a rock, stone or log. Males are highly protective of territory.
Perhaps the male Black-tailed Skimmer choses the worst possible background of any dragonfly to get a reasonable let alone a good photograph, their love of the bare earth, gravel paths or wooden decking constantly frustrates the photo taker - I'm still waiting to get a photograph that pleases!!
My experience of the female is that your more likely to stumble across one in long grass or emergent vegetation, then with care and patience a photograph can be achieved, careless actions result in her rapidly flying off and the hoped for snap lost.
Black-tailed Skimmers have increased their range throughout South Wales over the last twenty five years or so, but they are still only locally common, however the advent of country parks since the demise of the coal industry has proved highly beneficial in attracting this species.
My experience of the female is that your more likely to stumble across one in long grass or emergent vegetation, then with care and patience a photograph can be achieved, careless actions result in her rapidly flying off and the hoped for snap lost.
Black-tailed Skimmers have increased their range throughout South Wales over the last twenty five years or so, but they are still only locally common, however the advent of country parks since the demise of the coal industry has proved highly beneficial in attracting this species.
Keeled Skimmer orthetrum coerulescens
| Flight season late May until mid September |
The female Keeled Skimmer has the most beautifully suffused yellow wings (when young) that compliments her similarily coloured abdomen, her costa is a slightly paler yellow, the pterostigma is weak orange. Two cream/buff stripes can be clearly seen on top of the thorax.
The male Keeled Skimmer is a pale blue colour with a slight black mark at the extreme end of it's abdomen, the thorax is dark brown with two cream/buff stripes that becomes blue as it ages, the wings are clear with pale yellow costa. Eyes are blueish/grey.
The immature female on the left was found in early June in a most unexpected location, until I explored the locality a little more thoroughly and discovered some hidden seepages which was the perfect habitat for this most interesting of species.
The male Keeled Skimmer is a pale blue colour with a slight black mark at the extreme end of it's abdomen, the thorax is dark brown with two cream/buff stripes that becomes blue as it ages, the wings are clear with pale yellow costa. Eyes are blueish/grey.
The immature female on the left was found in early June in a most unexpected location, until I explored the locality a little more thoroughly and discovered some hidden seepages which was the perfect habitat for this most interesting of species.
Wales has always been a stronghold for this species, and I'll admit to being somewhat unsure of it's status in Gwent (Monmouthshire) compared to Glamorgan where I've seen and studied it at several of the country parks mentioned in locations.
Keeled Skimmers choose small boggy type pools and seepages along with small streams that have some cover, and also mosses such as sphagnum should be present, these are naturally acidic conditions in the South Wales area, yet more research is needed to find out if more neutral waters are tolerated for breeding.
I've watched Keeled Skimmers and Golden-ringed Dragonflies share the same narrow stretch of shallow water that originates from a below ground source on the site of former coal waste, this stretch of water slows to a trickle in drought but never dries up, the both species co-exist and thrive in such conditions.
Keeled Skimmers choose small boggy type pools and seepages along with small streams that have some cover, and also mosses such as sphagnum should be present, these are naturally acidic conditions in the South Wales area, yet more research is needed to find out if more neutral waters are tolerated for breeding.
I've watched Keeled Skimmers and Golden-ringed Dragonflies share the same narrow stretch of shallow water that originates from a below ground source on the site of former coal waste, this stretch of water slows to a trickle in drought but never dries up, the both species co-exist and thrive in such conditions.
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
| Flight season May to November (if weather permits) |
The name says it all, our commonest dragonfly, and also the species with the longest flight season, last year a female was seen actually trying to oviposit into an ice fringed pond in a public park in Caerphilly in late November....dragonflies are not supposed to do that!!!
The male is above the female in the image to the right, using it's anal claspers to hold her, she assists by using her legs to grasp his lower abdomen, they can fly short distances in this embrace.
Mature males are bright red, and can be mistaken for Ruddy Darters, but Ruddy Darters always have jet black legs, and male Ruddies also have club shaped tails.
Females are almost dark lemon in the teneral and immature phases, they get more yellow as they mature, when past their peak they can turn russet along the upper middle of the abdomen. The photograph below shows a female in her prime.
The male is above the female in the image to the right, using it's anal claspers to hold her, she assists by using her legs to grasp his lower abdomen, they can fly short distances in this embrace.
Mature males are bright red, and can be mistaken for Ruddy Darters, but Ruddy Darters always have jet black legs, and male Ruddies also have club shaped tails.
Females are almost dark lemon in the teneral and immature phases, they get more yellow as they mature, when past their peak they can turn russet along the upper middle of the abdomen. The photograph below shows a female in her prime.
No dragonfly is more accomodating for the novice photographer than the Common Darter, sometimes they seem to pose for you, at least their eyes seem to be looking straight at you as you compose your shot.
They constantly return to the same place, whether on some plant or man made timber work, this is undoubtly the species to hone your photographic skills on.
Few waters don't support good numbers of Common Darter, except fast flowing streams and rivers. I have encountered them at least half a mile from any water, basking on the margins of larch plantations on hillsides in the valleys. They can also tolerate real scorchers.
They constantly return to the same place, whether on some plant or man made timber work, this is undoubtly the species to hone your photographic skills on.
Few waters don't support good numbers of Common Darter, except fast flowing streams and rivers. I have encountered them at least half a mile from any water, basking on the margins of larch plantations on hillsides in the valleys. They can also tolerate real scorchers.
Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum
| Flight season June to October (weather permitting). |
Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii
| Flight season Mid May until October |
This migrant/vagrant species has been officially stated as having bred at Kenfig NNR, where it has been recorded from for several years. There are also records from Newport Wetlands/Gwent Levels but details are scanty. I'm informed that Red-veined Darter has also been observed on the River Wye in Gwent, but yet again I can find no further information. At present it has a distinctly coastal bias in southern Britain, but colonisation is probable.
Stunning scarlet abdomen with deep blood red thorax and jet black legs is undoubtedly an adult male Ruddy.
Seen head on (as below) the frons is distinctly red in contrast to the deep blood red thorax. The male has a pronounced clubbed lower abdomen.
The females and immature males are yellowish/ochre in colour, with some black abdominal markings, eyes are brown from above and yellow below in females.
Pterostigma is reddish brown in both sexes, wings clear.
Seen head on (as below) the frons is distinctly red in contrast to the deep blood red thorax. The male has a pronounced clubbed lower abdomen.
The females and immature males are yellowish/ochre in colour, with some black abdominal markings, eyes are brown from above and yellow below in females.
Pterostigma is reddish brown in both sexes, wings clear.
On the Gwent Levels, Ruddy Darters are found along the 'reens', which are man made waterways resembling canals. The 'reens' have good marginal plant growth, and often sit alongside hedgerows, it appears Ruddy's like some tree cover near or just around their habitat.
I'm still waiting for a good photograph of a female, the Ruddy's seem to prefer perching at ground level rather than making it easier by perching at a less difficult level...inconsiderate really!!
Less aggressive with it's own than other Darters.
I'm still waiting for a good photograph of a female, the Ruddy's seem to prefer perching at ground level rather than making it easier by perching at a less difficult level...inconsiderate really!!
Less aggressive with it's own than other Darters.
Black Darter Sympetrum danae
| Flight season is from mid July to October (if weather permits) |
Britain's smallest dragonfly, does'nt seem to have a foothold in Gwent if you accept the distribution maps in the current fieldguides, yet I've recorded them from moorland bog pools in the northern hills, also on the Blorenge and the feeder ponds near the Heads of the Valleys. The National Bio-diversity Network has no records for the species from Gwent!!!
In Glamorgan you need to visit the bog pools, especially those rich in bog mosses and moorland rushes, this is the realm of the Black Darter, these locations are usually in the uplands, but some will probably occur at heathland type locations at lower elevation.
In Glamorgan you need to visit the bog pools, especially those rich in bog mosses and moorland rushes, this is the realm of the Black Darter, these locations are usually in the uplands, but some will probably occur at heathland type locations at lower elevation.
Male Black Darters are not totally black until mature, and the abdomen is waisted. Immature males have considerable amounts of yellow, gradually losing it to black with maturity, the legs are also black as are the pterostigma, the wings are clear.
Females are ochre/yellow with a triangle of black on the thorax, there are also some black markings on the last few abdominal segments, the abdomen is not waisted like the males. The eyes are brownish above and paler below. Wings are clear but have an amberish tint where they meet the body.
Males bodies seem to be thermo-regulated, flight activity takes place when the insects body temperature is between 20 to 40 celsius, this is adjusted by perching at different heights, so I should think you stand a better chance to study and photograph them when the temperature is below 20 celsius.
Females are ochre/yellow with a triangle of black on the thorax, there are also some black markings on the last few abdominal segments, the abdomen is not waisted like the males. The eyes are brownish above and paler below. Wings are clear but have an amberish tint where they meet the body.
Males bodies seem to be thermo-regulated, flight activity takes place when the insects body temperature is between 20 to 40 celsius, this is adjusted by perching at different heights, so I should think you stand a better chance to study and photograph them when the temperature is below 20 celsius.
Banded Darter Sympetrum pedemontanum
| Very rare vagrant one British record only |
The only British record for this very rare vagrant species was from moorland nearTrefil,Tredegar in Gwent. It coincided with a period of unusual darter immigration on the 16th and 17th of August 1995, originating from the east. The habitat it was seen in appears similar to that of it's south-eastern European habitat. This species is unmistakable and highly unlikely to be confused with any other darter species, a wonderful example of what can be found locally if your in the right place at the right time.
Yellow-winged Darter Sympetrum flaveolum
| Flight season June until late September |
Another species that appears ready to colonise Britain, since an invasion in 1995 it has been found breeding, but sadly the species failed to establish a breeding population, pointing towards climatic conditions still not quite conducive to a more permanent British status. When the Yellow-winged Darter has favourable migratory conditions it can appear in good numbers, in Glamorgan it has been a regular summer visitor to the Kenfig NNR.
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