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SPECIES SEARCH
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ODONTA - ANISOPTERA - AESHNIDAE |
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THE EMPEROR (Anax imperator) Leach |
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PICTURE: Seen on Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire, July 2011. |
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DISTRIBUTION: This species is common in the south of England, up to the lower midlands, and is also common in south Wales. It is less frequent in the east and west of England, and also in north Wales. It is not found further north than a line across from the Humber estuary, apart from a few localities such as parts of Cumbria, north Yorkshire, Durham, and Stirling.
WING SPAN: 105mm to 107mm. BODY LENGTH: 77mm to 79mm. STATUS: Resident.
FLIGHT PERIOD: This species emerges in about the middle of May, and is on the wing until late August, and often into September.
LARVAL PERIOD: Females usually lay eggs when alone, and often well out from the waters edge. Eggs are inserted into living pondweed just below the surface. Eggs take about three weeks to hatch, ant the larvae take one to two years to achieve maturity.
HABITAT: Favoured habitats for this species are large lowland ponds, and other still water bodies.
FOOD SOURCE: Various species of invertebrates.
SIMILAR SPECIES: The Lesser Emperor and some hawkers are similar, but they all lack the apple green thorax.
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