Species account

Spidsplettet Libel (Libellula fulva)    Müller, 1764
   Libeller (Libellulidae) [Guldsmede]    BLCH    24820
Blue Chaser (gb)   Centinela de Ojos Azules (es)   Spetsfläckad Trollslända (se)  
Synonyms (common):
Scarce Chaser (gb) Libélula Escasa (es)
Synonyms (scientific):
Libellula fridrischdalensis Müller, 1764
Libellula fugax Harris, 1780
Libellula conspurcata Fabricius, 1798
Libellula quadrifasciata Donovan, 1807 (nec Müller, 1764)
Libellula bimaculata Stephen, 1835 (nec Charpentier, 1825)
Leptetrum rubrum Bartenev, 1912
Measurements:
To 42-45mm Ab 25-29mm Hw 32-38mm
Generations:
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
Scan
EU
Identification:
Similar species:
Life stages:
The mating wheel is normally established in flight, but the mating takes place in vegetation, trees, bushes or reed-beds. It lasts up to 15 minutes. The female drops the eggs alone, into the water from low height or by dipping the tail into the surface, where the water is open. Often the male watches over her. The eggs hatch after a month and the larvae live at the bottom, in the mud or in-between decomposed plants, and develop during 2 years. The imago-transformation takes place in reeds, bushes or trees near the shore, up to several meters above the ground.
Distribution:
Most of Europe; absent British Isles except southern England, absent Iberian peninsula except few localities, absent most of Fennoscandinavia except locally Denmark, southern Sweden and Finland. Also present Turkey, Ukraine and Russia to the Ural mountains. In Denmark mainly present in middle central Jylland and central Sjælland.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Endemic:
Status
In Denmark localized with strongholds in central Jylland near the large lakes and along Gudenåen. Similar stronghold on Sjælland along Susåen. Elsewhere scarce or accidental. Also recently found on Fyn. Probably stable or perhaps expanding.
Comment:
Blue Chaser 1252    (2 photos)
2021-06-05    Tamosen (Suserup), Denmark

Imago Han
Young.



Blue Chaser 1456    (3 photos)
2023-06-04    Tamosen (Suserup), Denmark

Imago Han
Different animals; at least photo 1 and 3.



Blue Chaser 1672    (1 photos)
2023-06-24    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Han
Susåen ved Herlufsholm.



Blue Chaser 1673    (1 photos)
2023-06-24    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Han
Susåen ved Herlufsholm.



Blue Chaser 1671    (2 photos)
2023-06-24    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Han
Susåen ved Herlufsholm.
The black area in the middle of the abdomen is often created by attached females that hold their feet at this position when connecting.



Blue Chaser 1670    (1 photos)
2023-06-24    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Han
Susåen ved Herlufsholm.
Here it's practically impossible to see the black wing patches.



Blue Chaser 1669    (1 photos)
2023-06-24    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Han
Susåen ved Herlufsholm.
A fighter more than a lover...



Blue Chaser 1668    (2 photos)
2023-06-24    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Han
Susåen ved Herlufsholm.
The black patches on the hindwings near the attachment are often not easy to see, sometimes making it tricky to separate it from a male Black-tailed Skimmer (Stor Blåpil) which never has these.



Blue Chaser 1667    (1 photos)
2023-06-24    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Han
Susåen ved Herlufsholm.
Here a male with a good amount of black in the wing-tip, which is more common to see on females.



Blue Chaser 1666    (1 photos)
2023-06-24    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Han
Susåen ved Herlufsholm.




Blue Chaser 1665    (2 photos)
2023-06-24    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Han
Susåen ved Herlufsholm.

Not sure if the species is more aggressive than other large dragonflies but it was a fact that we saw many individuals with broken wings as if they've been fighting.



Blue Chaser 1664    (1 photos)
2023-06-24    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Han
Susåen ved Herlufsholm.

Extraordinary or what to be expected here? We had an estimated 80 males flying around and perching and fighting and mating and...just around the bridge sitting on the vegetation - compared to Black-tailed Skimmer [Stor Blåpil] that often sits on the ground.



Blue Chaser 3048    (3 photos)
2024-07-18    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Han
Susåen ved Herlufsholm. Without dark wingtips.
A single male left at this rather late date in the season. No females found.



Blue Chaser 3148    (3 photos)
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

Imago Han
Young. As all animals seen today. Hiding at the western perimeter in-between bushes and trees to avoid the strong nw-wind.



Blue Chaser 3152    (3 photos)
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

Imago Han
Young. With smaller dark spots in the wing-tips.



Blue Chaser 3307    (4 photos)
2025-07-19    Tvilum Bro (Silkeborg), Denmark

Imago Han
Only a few males were present here close to the end of the main flight period.



Blue Chaser 1251    (3 photos)
2021-06-05    Tamosen (Suserup), Denmark

Imago Hun
Young



Blue Chaser 2074    (4 photos)
2023-07-28    Addit Hede (midtjylland), Denmark

Imago Hun
Mature.

Strongholds are central Sjælland and central Jylland, in Denmark, why it shouldn't be a surprise to find it here. But with no water close by, this is not a place I would go looking for it, that's for sure. Was sitting at eyelevel along a dirt road entering the forest. The white object dangling at the end of the abdomen is a trapped feces package.



Blue Chaser 3149    (1 photos)
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

Imago Hun
Young. With large dark-spotted wing-tips typical of the female.



Blue Chaser 3150    (2 photos)
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

Imago Hun
Young. With large dark-spotted wing-tips typical of the female.



Blue Chaser 3151    (1 photos)
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

Imago Hun
Young. With smaller dark spots in the wing-tips.



Blue Chaser 1674    (3 photos)
2023-06-24    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago Han & Hun
Susåen ved Herlufsholm.
A single female and mating was all we saw.