Dragonflies of Northamptonshire County Checklist

The 22 species of Dragonfly resident in Northamptonshire

Photos by Jeff Blincow

Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo Uncommon Habitat: Clear streams with gravelly bottom Only occurs in the west of the county
Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens Locally common Habitat: Clean rivers and streams River Nene
Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa Common Habitat: Still water, lakes and reservoirs with plenty of vegetation Pitsford Reservoir
Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas Locally common Habitat: Still or slow moving water, reservoirs, lakes, canals and rivers Lands on floating vegetation River Nene
Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum Uncommon Habitat: Still or slow moving water, reservoirs, lakes, canals and rivers Lands on floating vegetation First recorded in 2004
White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes Locally Common Habitat: Canals and slow moving water Steadily expanding its range, progressing up the Grand Union Canal
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula Common Habitat: Still and slow moving water
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella Common Habitat: Still water Often the first damselfly to appear in numbers
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyanthigerum Very Common Habitat: Ponds, lakes, streams and reservoirs Occurs commonly in September and often in early October
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans Very common Habitat: Ponds, lakes, streams and reservoirs Tolerant of small amounts of pollution Common in most wetland habitats
Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta Common Habitat: Still waters but can be seen in most habitats Large numbers can be seen hunting along woodland rides in Sept
Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea Common Habitat: Ponds, lakes and canals and woodland rides Regularly seen patrolling woodland rides
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis Common Habitat: Well-vegetated ponds, lakes and canals Distinctive bronze wings Can be seen in most habitats and easily identified in flight
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator Common Habitat: Still Water Fast flying and our largest dragonfly Fawsley Park Lakes
Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense Scarce Habitat: Still and slow-moving water An early dragonfly Summerleys
Downy Emerald Cordulia aenea Very Local Habitat: Ponds
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata Locally common Habitat: Ponds and canals
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa Locally common Habitat: Ponds and canals
Scarce Chaser Libellula fulva Local Habitat: Rivers River Nene east of Thrapston
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum Locally common Habitat: Ponds, canals and rivers Regularly perches on the ground River Nene at Yarwell
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum Very Common Habitat: Ponds and lakes Regularly perches on the ground Can even survive into November in mild years
Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum Common Habitat: Ponds and lakes Can even survive into November in mild years