If you can count to 4, you can recognize this dragonfly species. The Four-spotted chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) has four dark spots in the wings, two in the forewings and two in the hindwings (ok, per side, otherwise it would be the ‘eight spotted’ chaser…). The wings also have a dark base with yellow veins. The color of the body varies from yellow to brown, with black stripes on the sides. They have a length of about 5 centimeters and a wingspan of about 8 centimeters.

The Four-spotted chaser lives mainly in stagnant or slow-flowing water, where it hunts small insects. It is one of the most common dragonfly species in Europe, except in Spain.

The mating is a short coming-together in the air and then everyone goes their separate ways. The female deposits the eggs while flying, ‘dipping’ with the abdomen in the water. The larvae live on the bottom in the water for about 2 to 3 years and then hatching out. It is one of the first dragonflies (late April, early May) you will see. You can meet him until at least August, sometimes a little longer.

There is also a somewhat different, dark shape, in which the black spots on the outside are present on the entire wing tip, not spots, but a kind of smudges. This is called the ‘praenubila’ form. This is Latin for something like cloudy or dark colored.

–..– Facebook –..– Instagram –..– Adobe Portfolio –..– Photo albums –..– Nature blog –..–