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Broad-bodied Chaser

Libellula depressa

1 photo

1 photographer

·Uncommon · 10 pts

Flat blue or yellow body; perches prominently by ponds.

1 community photo of Broad-bodied Chaser on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/1000ss shutter, 300mm.

Species Profile

Green List; common and widespread with no conservation concerns in the UK.

Lifespan: Approximately 7–8 weeks as adults; total lifecycle from egg to adult roughly 1–2 years depending on water temperature.
Size & Weight: 28–31 mm body length; wingspan 52–58 mm.
Habitat: Found around shallow, warm, well-vegetated ponds, lakes, and ditches with emergent vegetation and open basking areas.
UK Distribution: Widespread across England and Wales, becoming scarcer in Scotland; generally resident with local populations boosted by late-summer emergence.
Diet: Carnivorous; hunts small flying insects including gnats, midges, flies, and smaller dragonflies.
Prey: Gnats, midges, small flies, and occasionally smaller dragonflies and damselflies.
Predators: Birds (particularly kingfishers and warblers), spiders, fish (in nymphal stage), and robber flies.
Mating Season: May to September, with peak activity June to August.
Breeding: Females lay hundreds of eggs in batches directly into water or wet vegetation; nymphs develop over 1–2 years through multiple instars, with emergence typically in June–September.
Behaviour: Males are highly territorial and perch prominently on water margins or vegetation, darting out to intercept prey or chase rivals. Females tend to avoid males outside mating periods. The species is one of the earliest dragonflies to appear in spring.

Did You Know?

•Males develop a striking blue-grey waxy powder (pruinescence) on their bodies as they mature, making them highly visible and recognisable.
•The species name 'depressa' refers to its broad, flattened body shape, which is an adaptation for low-level fast flying.
•They are powerful fliers capable of rapid acceleration and can hover in place whilst hunting.
•Males engage in elaborate aerial combat displays, using wing-beats to create sound signals and intimidate rivals.
•The broad-bodied chaser is one of the most abundant dragonfly species in south-east England and has expanded its range northwards in recent decades, possibly due to climate warming.

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Shutter

1/1000ss

ISO Range

200

Aperture

f/f/5.6

Focal Length

300mm

🐛 Broad-bodied Chaser

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