Libellula depressa - Broad-bodied Chaser - Libellule déprimé

Description

This pale blue (male) dragonfly always appears to be fat. This is because it is dorso-ventrally flattened. The female is a similar shape but is brown with yellow spots along the margins of the abdomen. Found near ponds and small lakes, this species is often one of the first to colonise new water bodies. The male, typically, selects a dry reed sticking out of the water from which it regularly darts out over the water surface searching for prey or a mate.

Male, plan d'eau, Lunas (34), 20th May 2005

Female near St-Etienne-d'Estrechoux (34), 1st June 2005

Observations

30/06/2004   2 males and 1 female at Lac de Vezouls, Hérault (34).

20/05/2005   Up to 20 males and a few females, including some mating and ovipositing at the plan d'eau, Lunas, Hérault (34).

28/05/2005   A few males patrolling over the stream at Chateau de Grezan, Laurens (34)

01/06/2005   Several males and a couple of females (incuding one ovipositing). Males were being harrassed by Emperor Dragonflies. River mare, St-Etienne-d'Estrechoux (34)

22/06/2006   Several males patrolling and a few females (incuding one ovipositing) at the Plan d'eau, Lunas (34)

20/07/2006   A solitary male at Lac de Bourdelet, Riols (34).

20/07/2006   About 5 males seen on a drainage ditch on acid pasture on the Somail plaeau between Faisse sur Agout and Lac de Vesoles (34).

24/05/2007   3-10 males seen at the Plan d'Eau at Lunas