Anax parthenope - Lesser Emperor Dragonfly - Anax napolitain

Description

Similar in appearance and habits to the Emperor Dragonfly, the Lesser Emperor can be distinguished by the restricted amount of blue on the abdomen - only the segments nearest to the thorax are bright blue, the rest of the abdomen is a dull, blueish brown. It is slightly earlier to fly than Emperor but is found in similar habitats, e.g. ponds and lakes.

Observations

26/05/2004   Several males hunting along the edges of Lac du Salagou, Hérault (34).

01/09/2004   Solitary male hawking by the Lac du Salagou, Hérault (34).

22/06/2006   A few males and one female ovipositing at the Plan d'eau, Lunas (34)

29/04/2007   2 males seen patrolling the edge of Lac du Salagou

22/05/2007   1 male at Lac de Vésoles

24/05/2007   Solitary male seen at the Plan d'Eau at Lunas

08/06/2007   3 males seen at the Scamandre reserve in the Petit Camargue

09/06/2007   3-10 males and females at the Pallisade Reserve in the Camargue

09/06/2007   Solitary male at the Capelière Reserve in the Camargue

16/05/2009   Solitary male hawking over the boating lake at Lunas (34).