- Lifespan
- 1 year as an adult; 2–3 years in larval stage underwater
- Size & Weight
- 65–78 mm body length; wingspan 95–110 mm; approximately 2 g
- Habitat
- Ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow-flowing watercourses with abundant aquatic vegetation.
- UK Distribution
- Widespread throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland; primarily southern and central regions. Resident, with some movement between breeding waters.
- Diet
- Carnivorous; hunts small flying insects in flight.
- Prey
- Small insects including midges, flies, mosquitoes, small dragonflies, and occasionally small butterflies and damselflies.
- Predators
- Robber flies, other larger dragonflies, water beetles (as nymphs), birds including hobbies and sparrowhawks, and fish.
- Mating Season
- June to October, with peak activity July to September.
- Breeding
- Females lay 100–400+ eggs individually into aquatic plants or substrate. Eggs hatch in 2–3 weeks. Nymphs develop over 2–3 years with 10–13 instars before emergence.
- Behaviour
- Highly active hunters, patrolling territories rapidly and aggressively defending feeding and breeding areas. Males are strongly territorial and often perch prominently on vegetation. They can hunt in warm, sunny conditions when other dragonflies are less active.