Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis)

OTHER NAMES: Hairy Dragonfly, Spring Hawker, Amber-winged Hawker

Latin Etymology: Aeshna (?) grandis ("large")

Adult Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) at Peterborough - Summer 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: 73mm  /  Wingspan: 102mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Probably just about the easiest British Dragonfly to identify in the field - even in flight its rust-bronze wings are distinctive, along with its similarly coloured body and blue or lime green spots.  Found throughout much of Europe, and much of England in particular, I have found this a fairly easy species to see, often patrolling forest ridings, but they seem to be even more flighty than most dragonflies, and thus harder to photograph without something between you and them.

Related Species:
Order: Odonata
Family: Aeshnidae
Genus: Aeshna
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington, Brigstock and Wellingborough.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)

OTHER NAMES: Blue Emperor

Latin Etymology: Anax (?) imperator ("emperor")

Adult Emperor Dragonfly (subspecies A. i. imperator) at Wellingborough, Northants - June 2016

Featured Subspecies: Anax imperator imperator
Length: 76mm  /  Wingspan: 106mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The largest of the British dragonflies, and as such, arguably the most powerful insect predator in the country. Emperor Dragonflies are fairly widespread throughout the Summer months.  As nymphs, they are able to feed on small vertebrates such as tadpoles and small fish, while as adults they are able to take larger insects such as butterflies and smaller dragonfly species.  The female markings seen on this individual are green on females.

Related Species:
Order: Odonata
Family: Aeshnidae
Genus: Anax
SUBSPECIES: A. i. mauricianus, A. i. imperator

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and Wellingborough.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae)

OTHER NAMES: Cinnabar

Latin Etymology: Tyria (?) jacobaeae (after the family name of Ragwort - it's foodplant)

Adult Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae) at Geddington, Northants - July 2014

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 32-42mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The Cinnabar Moth is a fairly common but distinctive species found throughout much of UK - wherever ragwort is found.  Care should be taken to differentiate it from the similarly coloured but more abundant Six-Spot Burnet, which for a long time when I was younger was told was this species.  To differentiate, compare the patterns on the black fore-wings of the two species - the burnet has 6 spots on each, while this has two spots and a long red bar.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Erebidae
Genus: Tyria
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and several other sites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

OTHER NAMES: Northern Blue, Common Blue
Latin Etymology: Enallagma (?) cyathigerum (?)

Adult Common Blue Damselfly (subspecies E. c. cyathigerum) at Geddington, Northants - August 2011

Featured Subspecies: Enallagma cyathigerum cyathigerum
Length: 32-35mm  /  Wingspan: 36-42mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

As the name suggests, this damselfly is both common and blue. It is very similar to the Azure damselfly, but can be differentiated by some subtle differences in markings. It's probably the most common damselfly most people will encounter, and, for that matter, of any sort of dragonfly.

Related Species:
Order: Odonata
Family: Coenagrionidae
Genus: Enallagma
SUBSPECIES: E. c. antiquum, E. c. cyathigerum, E. c. mongolicium, E. c. vernale

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington, Wellingborough, Pitsford and various other sites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List,  RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .