Here be dragons – The Scarce Chaser

The Scarce Chaser, Libellula fulva, is a medium-sized dragonfly (about 40 to 50 mm long). The adults begin to emerge in late May. Both sexes feature dark wing bases and often distinct black wing tips. The males, however, have vibrant blue eyes and a powder-blue body that ends with a black tip on the tail. Whereas the females have brown eyes and an ochre-orange body marked with a line of dark triangles running down the centre of the abdomen. Female Scarce Chaser This species is found locally across southern England, the East Midlands, and East Anglia. Historically its range is quite restricted, but despite being a “near-threatened” species on the 2008 British Odonata Red List it has been range extending since 2004. It prefers clean, slow-moving lowland river floodplains, winding rivers, and large drainage ditches, as well as established gravel pits. The adults require nearby trees or bushes for shelter, while breeding females need open, calm water with a range of aquatic plants. Human…