Emperor (dragonfly)
| Emperor dragonfly | |
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| Male Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife |
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| File:Emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator) female.JPG | |
| female Whitecross Green Wood, Oxfordshire |
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| Scientific classification | |
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A. imperator
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| Binomial name | |
| Anax imperator Leach, 1815
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| Synonyms | |
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Anax mauricianus |
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The emperor dragonfly[2] or blue emperor[1] (Anax imperator) is a large species of hawker dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae, averaging 78 millimetres (3.1 in) in length.[2] It is found mainly in Europe and nearby Africa and Asia.
Behaviour
They frequently fly high up into the sky in search of prey, which includes butterflies, Four-spotted Chasers and tadpoles; small prey is eaten while flying. They breed in a variety of aquatic habitats from large ponds to dykes, but they require a plentiful supply of vegetation in the water. The females lay the eggs into plants such as pondweed, and always lay alone. The male is highly territorial, and difficult to approach.[3]
Identification
When they first emerge, both sexes appear pale green with brown markings. The legs are brown with a yellow like base. Wings are born black but grow yellow-brown with age. Males have a sky blue abdomen marked with a diagnostic black dorsal stripe and an apple green thorax. The thorax and head of a male is green and their prominent eyes are blue. Females have similar markings but they are mainly green.[3]
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Ai(loz)hydro.JPG
Male in side view
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Anax imperator-pjt1.jpg
In flight
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Anax imperator Exuvie MHNT Parc de la Maourine.jpg
Exuvie MHNT
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Anax imperator female.jpg
Laying eggs
References
External links
Media related to Anax imperator at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Anax imperator at Wikispecies
_female.JPG){kind=link}