Hairy dragonfly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hairy dragonfly |
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The hairy dragonfly (Brachytron pratense), also known as the hairy hawker or spring hawker, is a type of dragonfly found in Europe. It belongs to a group of dragonflies called Aeshnidae. This dragonfly gets its name because it has a furry chest, which helps tell it apart from other similar dragonflies. It's the only species in its genus, Brachytron.
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What does the Hairy Dragonfly look like?
The hairy dragonfly is easy to spot because of its hairy thorax, which is like its chest area. This makes it different from other hawker dragonflies. It also has a long, narrow pterostigma, which is a small, colored patch on the outer part of each wing.
Its stripes, called antehumeral stripes, are usually thin and green. The hairy dragonfly has oval-shaped markings on its body. These markings are blue on males and yellow on females. It is smaller than other dragonflies in the Aeshna group. In the United Kingdom, it is the smallest hawker dragonfly you can find.
Where does the Hairy Dragonfly live?
The hairy dragonfly makes its home in places like ponds, lakes, fens, ditches, and canals. These places are usually full of plants. Some common plants found there include common club rush, common reed, great fen sedge, and true bulrush.
This dragonfly needs open, sunny spots with lots of thick plants. These plants offer protection and a good place to hide. They also provide areas where the dragonflies can catch flying insects to eat, stay safe, and grow old enough to have babies.
Even though it's a common species, the hairy dragonfly can be affected by how ditches are managed or if the water gets dirty. This is why the species disappeared for a few years in some places, but thankfully, it has recently returned. More than its relatives, the hairy dragonfly only flies when the sun is out. If the sun goes behind a cloud, it quickly finds a place to hide.
What does the Hairy Dragonfly eat?
Like other hawker dragonflies, the hairy dragonfly catches its food while flying. It preys on other flying insects in mid-air. Once it catches its meal, it carries the food to a good spot. There, it can sit down, eat, and digest its food.
The Hairy Dragonfly's Life Cycle
The hairy dragonfly has a short flying season, which starts early. It usually begins in mid-May and finishes by mid-July. The female dragonflies lay their eggs on dead plants or living stems that grow in the water, close to the water's edge.
About two years later, the young dragonflies, called larvae, come out. They climb up plant stems just above the water's surface. Sometimes, they might even crawl about a meter inland. Once they are out of the water, they have enough space to spread their wings and begin their adult life.
