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Bugs
Southern hawker
Aeshna cyanea
A big, curious dragonfly that will often fly right up to have a look at you before darting away.
- Length
- About 7cm
- Look for it
- June to October
- Where
- Garden ponds and woodland paths
My spotter's list
Shoots across, holds still in the air, darts sideways. Move your pointer and see.
Good to know
Six things about the dragonfly
HistoryOlder than the dinosaurs
Giant dragonfly-like insects were flying over 300 million years ago, some with wings wider than a gull's.
FlightFour wings, one pilot
Each wing can move on its own, so dragonflies can hover, turn on the spot and even fly backwards.
HuntingAce hunters
Dragonflies catch flying insects in mid-air, and studies have found they succeed in the vast majority of their attacks.
EyesSeeing all round
Their huge compound eyes are made of thousands of tiny lenses, giving them almost all-round vision.
WaterMost of life underwater
A dragonfly spends most of its life as an underwater nymph, sometimes for years, before climbing out to become a flying adult.
AdultsA short summer
The flying adult stage is the shortest part of a dragonfly's life, usually lasting a few weeks.
The real thing
Photos of the dragonfly
Out and aboutHow to spot one
Look along woodland rides, hedges and garden ponds from July to October. This one is curious and will often fly right up to look at you.
Lend a handHow to help
A pond without fish, with plants standing up out of the water, gives the nymphs somewhere to climb out and become adults.
Following youLadybird
Who should follow you?
Bees and hoverflies
Butterflies and moths
Dragonflies and damselflies
Beetles, hoppers and ants
Not insects at all
Snails and spiders aren't insects: a snail is a mollusc, and spiders have eight legs.
Garden birds
Pond animals live on the Pond page: choosing one takes you there.
Pond life
Night garden
Seashore animals live on the Seashore page: choosing one takes you there.
Rock pool life
Woodland animals
Under a log
Meadow life
River animals live on the River page: choosing one takes you there.
River life
Mountain and moor
Farmland
Town and city
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