DRAGONFLY: Emperor at Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria

July 23, 2010:
In intermittent late afternoon sunshine at the small pool at Foulshaw, a male Emperor (Anax imperator) restlessly quartered the water.



I watched it for over an hour and it never settled even for a moment throughout this time although on three occasions it successfully chased off an intruding male. Eventually, a female arrived at the pool and then within seconds, after a brief flurry, the pair were settled down in the vegetation. So this was a rare opportunity to get a photo of these mobile insects.




[Male]