©David Martin
Hairy dragonfly
Scientific name: Brachytron pratense
The UK's smallest hawker, the Hairy dragonfly is mostly black in colour, but has a distinctively hairy thorax. It can be found in grazing marshes and flooded gravel pits, and along canals from spring.
Species information
Statistics
Length: 5.5cmConservation status
Common.
When to see
May to JulyAbout
The Hairy dragonfly is a medium-sized hawker found around waterbodies with plenty of different plants; ditches in grazing marshes, gravel pits and canals are particularly good spots to look for this species. The earliest dragonfly to emerge in the UK, it is on the wing from May to July. Hawkers are the largest and fastest flying dragonflies. They catch their insect-prey mid-air and can hover and fly backwards.How to identify
The UK's smallest hawker, Hairy dragonfly is mostly black in colour. The male has pale blue, pear-shaped spots all along the body, blue eyes and broad, lime-green patches on the thorax. The female has yellowish spots and brownish eyes. If seen well, the short hairs all over the body make the Hairy dragonfly unmistakeable.In our area
The Hairy Dragonfly is a rare species in Montgomeryshire. There are a few records around Welshpool, but the Dyfi area appears to be the best place to see them. Keep your eyes peeled whilst visiting our Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve and let us know if you see one.