Latest dragonflies photos
Small Bluetail 3178    (2 photos)
Small Bluetail (Ischnura pumilio) (Dragonflies)
Lille Farvevandnymfe (dk)   Agrion Menor (es)   Mindra Kustflickslända (se)  
2025-05-20    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago. Female. Store regnvandsbassin. Pale aurantica.
A single animal suddenly showed up today. It looked big, and having seen all- orange female elegans [Stor Farvevandnymfe] before, I was mostly in favor of that species on site. But the photos are detailed enough to eliminate any doubt: The orange form-shaped plastic-looking backside and top of the eyes and the shape of the pronotum and the lack of signal lights on S8 confirm that it is indeed a pumilio. I had my first at this same spot on exactly the same date last year.

  
Variable Bluet 3174    (1 photos)
Variable Bluet (Coenagrion pulchellum) (Dragonflies)
Flagermus-vandnymfe (dk)   Agrion Variable (es)   Mörk Lyrflickslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Tamosen (Suserup), Denmark

Imago. Male.

  
Large Redeye 3173    (1 photos)
Large Redeye (Erythromma najas) (Dragonflies)
Rødøjet Vandnymfe (dk)   Större Rödögonflickslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

Imago. Male. Young.

  
Large Redeye 3172    (2 photos)
Large Redeye (Erythromma najas) (Dragonflies)
Rødøjet Vandnymfe (dk)   Större Rödögonflickslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

Imago. Male. Young.

  
Blue Featherleg 3165    (2 photos)
Blue Featherleg (Platycnemis pennipes) (Dragonflies)
Fjerbenet Vandnymfe (dk)   Caballito del Diablo Patiblanco (es)   Flodflickslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Tamosen (Suserup), Denmark

Imago. Female. Young.

  
Blue Featherleg 3164    (1 photos)
Blue Featherleg (Platycnemis pennipes) (Dragonflies)
Fjerbenet Vandnymfe (dk)   Caballito del Diablo Patiblanco (es)   Flodflickslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Tamosen (Suserup), Denmark

Imago. Female. Young. The first reported this year from here. Only two seen, but late in the day and with a chilly northern wind making conditions difficult.

  
Large Red Damsel 3163    (1 photos)
Large Red Damsel (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) (Dragonflies)
Rød Vandnymfe (dk)   Caballito de Fuego (es)   Röd Flickslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago. Male. Mature.

  Aberrant
Large Red Damsel 3162    (1 photos)
Large Red Damsel (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) (Dragonflies)
Rød Vandnymfe (dk)   Caballito de Fuego (es)   Röd Flickslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago. Male. Mature.

  Aberrant
Large Red Damsel 3161    (1 photos)
Large Red Damsel (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) (Dragonflies)
Rød Vandnymfe (dk)   Caballito de Fuego (es)   Röd Flickslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Tamosen (Suserup), Denmark

Imago. Female. Mature. Acting like a spreadwing. Perhaps to keep the wings away from the dirty abdomen?

  
Azure Bluet 3159    (1 photos)
Azure Bluet (Coenagrion puella) (Dragonflies)
Hestesko-vandnymfe (dk)   Agrion Donzella (es)   Ljus Lyrflickslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Tamosen (Suserup), Denmark

Imago. Male. An individual with a strong line between the eyes, but otherwise very Azure-like.

  
Common Clubtail 3158    (3 photos)
Common Clubtail (Gomphus vulgatissimus) (Dragonflies)
Almindelig Flodguldsmed (dk)   Alguacil Eurasiático (es)   Sandflodtrollslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago. Female. Mature. With a damaged and dark-colored right eye.

  Aberrant
Common Clubtail 3157    (3 photos)
Common Clubtail (Gomphus vulgatissimus) (Dragonflies)
Almindelig Flodguldsmed (dk)   Alguacil Eurasiático (es)   Sandflodtrollslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago. Female. Mature.

  
Common Clubtail 3156    (1 photos)
Common Clubtail (Gomphus vulgatissimus) (Dragonflies)
Almindelig Flodguldsmed (dk)   Alguacil Eurasiático (es)   Sandflodtrollslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago. Male. Mature. Only a few animals present on a windy day, but in general there have only been reported few emerging animals from this locality until now. The species develop during 2-4 years, why this year probably is a year in-between breedings.

  
Downy Emerald 3155    (1 photos)
Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) (Dragonflies)
Grøn Smaragdlibel (dk)   Esmeralda Bronceada (es)   Guldtrollslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

Imago. Male & Female. Mating wheel. Many animals present out of the wind along the western perimeter of the bog, and a good number of matings seen.

  
Banded Demoiselle 3154    (1 photos)
Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) (Dragonflies)
Blåbåndet Pragtvandnymfe (dk)   Caballito del Diablo Verde (es)   Blåbandad Jungfruslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Tamosen (Suserup), Denmark

Imago. Male. Mature. As a Herlufsholm only very few animals present today.

  
Banded Demoiselle 3153    (1 photos)
Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) (Dragonflies)
Blåbåndet Pragtvandnymfe (dk)   Caballito del Diablo Verde (es)   Blåbandad Jungfruslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Herlufsholm Kostskole, Denmark

Imago. Male. Mature. Only a few animals present on a windy day, and probably too early for the large emergence.

  
Blue Chaser 3152    (3 photos)
Blue Chaser (Libellula fulva) (Dragonflies)
Spidsplettet Libel (dk)   Libélula Escasa (es)   Spetsfläckad Trollslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

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

  
Blue Chaser 3151    (1 photos)
Blue Chaser (Libellula fulva) (Dragonflies)
Spidsplettet Libel (dk)   Libélula Escasa (es)   Spetsfläckad Trollslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

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

  
Blue Chaser 3150    (2 photos)
Blue Chaser (Libellula fulva) (Dragonflies)
Spidsplettet Libel (dk)   Libélula Escasa (es)   Spetsfläckad Trollslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

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

  
Blue Chaser 3149    (1 photos)
Blue Chaser (Libellula fulva) (Dragonflies)
Spidsplettet Libel (dk)   Libélula Escasa (es)   Spetsfläckad Trollslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

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

  
Blue Chaser 3148    (3 photos)
Blue Chaser (Libellula fulva) (Dragonflies)
Spidsplettet Libel (dk)   Libélula Escasa (es)   Spetsfläckad Trollslända (se)  
2025-05-17    Holmegaards Mose, Denmark

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

  
Variable Bluet 3144    (1 photos)
Variable Bluet (Coenagrion pulchellum) (Dragonflies)
Flagermus-vandnymfe (dk)   Agrion Variable (es)   Mörk Lyrflickslända (se)  
2025-05-09    Jægersborg Dyrehave, Denmark

Imago. Male. Fuglesangsø.
Perhaps there were two males, but when I first spotted one, I saw it as if it clearly didn't have any blue line between the eyes at all, but then taking this photo there obviously is a partial line...which is what to expect of the species...why I wanted a photo of the one wihtout it.

  
Hairy Hawker 3143    (5 photos)
Hairy Hawker (Brachytron pratense) (Dragonflies)
Håret Mosaikguldsmed (dk)   Esna Primaveral (es)   Tidig Mosaikslända (se)  
2025-05-08    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Male. Fonscolombii-lysningen.
I have to continue to practice my net-abilities. Also to make sure the animals are affected as little as possible. Learning which animals are realistic candidates for a capture and which not. It's definitely easier when they are perched, and preferibly low. Trying to catch them when they're already flushed from the ground or bushes is almost impossible.

This one was very energetic, and kept basking the wings in the net, and when I tried to grab it at first it even bid me! You wouldn't call it hurtful, but still a strong enough bite to get very surprised when it happens. A fierceful one.

The photos are bad, I know. A wide-angle, handheld with one hand and no support. Using autofocus was the only option to try to get the right focus - will need a proper setup when I get to the real deal one day.

But at least you can see why the species is called Hairy. I guess all dragonflies have hairs on the body, why it might be a meaningless name to give a single species, but still the amount on the abdomen is significant enough (here) to justify the name. And probably in good use now, the hairs, with clear sky in the night and still a cold northern sweeping over the country.

Pellets coming out of S10.

No photos after the release, but it took off fine and flew very far indeed to avoid such an experience again.

  Hands on, Captured
Downy Emerald 3142    (4 photos)
Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) (Dragonflies)
Grøn Smaragdlibel (dk)   Esmeralda Bronceada (es)   Guldtrollslända (se)  
2025-05-05    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Male. SHV-lysninger.
Last of the three species to be tested with my net today. There seem to be more aenea this spring on Amager than I have seen the other years.


  Hands on, Captured
Broad-bodied Chaser 3141    (6 photos)
Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) (Dragonflies)
Blå Libel (dk)   Libélula Plana (es)   Bred Trollslända (se)  
2025-05-05    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Female. SHV-lysninger. First of the year for me.
And second animal to be caught with my net, as a test to see how easy it would be. And with the practice, not that difficult, actually. Net diameter 25 cm.


  Hands on, Captured
Four-spotted Chaser 3140    (5 photos)
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) (Dragonflies)
Fire-plettet Libel (dk)   Libélula de Cuatro Manchas (es)   Fyrfläckad Trollslända (se)  
2025-05-05    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Male. SHV-lysninger.
After having created my own nets, this is my first attempt to catch the larger dragonflies. At first it appeared impossible to approach any of the four-spotted that were perched low in the vegetation - they seemed to be able to smell my dubious intentions, and flew away before I could get close enough. But then finally I succeed with this one. Learning how to move oneself and the net comes with practice it turned out.

I had read that the animals often stay put after being released, allowing good opportunities to take photos. This was also the case here, and in fact, I got a little worried because, it seemed completely reluctant to move by itself, after I released it. Pushing it a little, to test it, it decided to land on my pants instead. The wind was cold today, and though we were in a sheltered clearing the extra heat absorbed by my pants might have been attractive, ignoring the risk, I had just put it through. Or are they reluctant to fly instantly, after being released, caused by a physiological condition? Could it be that when being captured and hold by the wings, the wing muscles continue to fire, and the animal eventually gets tired, and it then takes a longer time for it to recover its strength and ability to move the wings properly?

  Hands on, Captured
Blue Hawker 3138    (1 photos)
Blue Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) (Dragonflies)
Blå Mosaikguldsmed (dk)   Esna Selvática (es)   Blågrön Mosaikslända (se)  
2025-04-30    Søndermarken (Frederiksberg), Denmark

Larva. Sibirien. Ca. 5 cm.
1 larva caught by local school children. Clearly an Aeshna species, and id'ed to species level by known species present.

  Larva
Broad-bodied Chaser 3137    (4 photos)
Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) (Dragonflies)
Blå Libel (dk)   Libélula Plana (es)   Bred Trollslända (se)  
2025-04-30    Søndermarken (Frederiksberg), Denmark

Larva. Sibirien. Ca. 3 cm.
5 larvae caught by the local pupils. A single one was much smaller than these, but no photo. Id'ed to species level based on the presence of imago individuals during the flight period- I'm not sure if the photos are good enough to rule out similar-looking species if location was not known.

  Larva
Common Bluet 3136    (1 photos)
Common Bluet (Enallagma cyathigerum) (Dragonflies)
Almindelig Vandnymfe (dk)   Agrion Enallagma (es)   Sjöflickslända (se)  
2025-05-02    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Male. Den landskabelige kanal - vest.
Almost fully colored. With prey.

  
Common Bluet 3135    (1 photos)
Common Bluet (Enallagma cyathigerum) (Dragonflies)
Almindelig Vandnymfe (dk)   Agrion Enallagma (es)   Sjöflickslända (se)  
2025-05-02    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Male. Den landskabelige kanal - vest.
Younger male in transition.

  
Common Bluetail 3134    (2 photos)
Common Bluetail (Ischnura elegans) (Dragonflies)
Stor Farvevandnymfe (dk)   Agrion Elegante (es)   Större Kustflickslända (se)  
2025-05-02    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Male. Den landskabelige kanal - vest.
Young. Same brownish coloring on the thorax as 3133 probably means it is part of the normal maturing process.

  
Common Bluetail 3133    (2 photos)
Common Bluetail (Ischnura elegans) (Dragonflies)
Stor Farvevandnymfe (dk)   Agrion Elegante (es)   Större Kustflickslända (se)  
2025-05-02    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Male. Den landskabelige kanal - vest.
Young. Same brownish coloring on the thorax as 3134 probably means it is part of the normal maturing process.

  
Large Redeye 3132    (3 photos)
Large Redeye (Erythromma najas) (Dragonflies)
Rødøjet Vandnymfe (dk)   Större Rödögonflickslända (se)  
2025-05-02    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Female. Den landskabelige kanal - vest.
First appearance this year. 2 females. And a week earlier than last year.

  
Variable Bluet 3131    (1 photos)
Variable Bluet (Coenagrion pulchellum) (Dragonflies)
Flagermus-vandnymfe (dk)   Agrion Variable (es)   Mörk Lyrflickslända (se)  
2025-05-02    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Male. Den landskabelige kanal - vest.
One of the few mature colored individuals so far. Notice the lack of the pale line between the eyes.

  
Variable Bluet 3130    (1 photos)
Variable Bluet (Coenagrion pulchellum) (Dragonflies)
Flagermus-vandnymfe (dk)   Agrion Variable (es)   Mörk Lyrflickslända (se)  
2025-05-02    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Female. Den landskabelige kanal - vest. Blue form.

  
Downy Emerald 3129    (2 photos)
Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) (Dragonflies)
Grøn Smaragdlibel (dk)   Esmeralda Bronceada (es)   Guldtrollslända (se)  
2025-04-26    Holmegaards mose , Denmark

Imago. Female. First day of the year.
I don't know if folded wings is a common trait of the young aenea, but Billqvist has them the same way in his 2. edition.

  
Variable Bluet 3128    (2 photos)
Variable Bluet (Coenagrion pulchellum) (Dragonflies)
Flagermus-vandnymfe (dk)   Agrion Variable (es)   Mörk Lyrflickslända (se)  
2025-04-26    Holmegaards mose , Denmark

Imago. Female. The first of the year. Teneral.

  
Downy Emerald 3126    (2 photos)
Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) (Dragonflies)
Grøn Smaragdlibel (dk)   Esmeralda Bronceada (es)   Guldtrollslända (se)  
2025-04-26    Holmegaards mose , Denmark

Imago. Male. First of the year. The next day 400+ were reported from here, a known stronghold, but still rather early.

The forked and hooked epiproct [lower appendage] is something I didn't pay attention to before I got this photo.

  
Large Red Damsel 3124    (1 photos)
Large Red Damsel (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) (Dragonflies)
Rød Vandnymfe (dk)   Caballito de Fuego (es)   Röd Flickslända (se)  
2025-04-24    Eghjorten Skovområde (Grib Skov), Denmark

Imago. Female. Young. Inspired by Ib Fagerlund, I visited this spot after he had seen a single animal a week ago. My success was entirely based on 10 minutes of sun coming through an opening in the dense clouds, where the animals started to fly. This female and 3 other tenerals was the result. My first April animals.

  
Ruby Whiteface 3123    (2 photos)
Ruby Whiteface (Leucorrhinia rubicunda) (Dragonflies)
Nordisk Kærguldsmed (dk)   Nordisk Kärrtrollslända (se)  
2025-04-24    Eghjorten Skovområde (Grib Skov), Denmark

Imago. Male. An early emergence, and my first April imago. It appeared to come straight out of the water, when the sun came out, and flew directly to this position 6-7 meters up in a beech. It's difficult to see the appendages well enough, I think, to call it a male without hesitation, though they do seem to be closer to each other than seen on the female. But apart from this the male secondary genitals are visible in photo 2 confirming the sex.

  
Blue-eyed Hawker 3073    (5 photos)
Blue-eyed Hawker (Aeshna affinis) (Dragonflies)
Sydlig Mosaikguldsmed (dk)   Esna Zafiro (es)   Klarblå Mosaikslända (se)  
2024-08-24    Søvang, Denmark

Imago. Male. Vandhullet.
2 males finally present today.
1: 1-3
2: 4-5

  
Blue-eyed Hawker 3071    (9 photos)
Blue-eyed Hawker (Aeshna affinis) (Dragonflies)
Sydlig Mosaikguldsmed (dk)   Esna Zafiro (es)   Klarblå Mosaikslända (se)  
2024-08-26    Søvang, Denmark

Imago. Male. Vandhullet.
3 males present today; two of them the same as two days earlier.
1: 1-3
2: 4-7 (same as 2 on 24th)
3: 8-9 (same as 1 on 24th)

  
Common Darter 3070    (4 photos)
Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (Dragonflies)
Stor Hedelibel (dk)   Libélula Estriada (es)   Större Ängstrollslända (se)  
2024-08-26    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago. Male & Female. Egg-dropping.

  
Common x Robust Spreadwing (hybrid) 3069    (5 photos)
Common x Robust Spreadwing (hybrid) (Lestes sponsa x dryas) (Dragonflies)

2024-08-26    Kongelundsområdet, Denmark

Imago. Female. NØ-vandhullet.

This one is puzzling, why I tentatively try to call it a hybrid to have it marked for attention. The thick abdomen, the long ovipositor and the wide cobber mark on S1 is all good for dryas. But the strong pale shoulder stripe, the isolated cobber spot at the front of the thorax and limited cobber color on prothorax is much better for sponsa. There was only this single animal present. I've had both species at this rather isolated water hole, why a hybrid shouldn't be completely unrealistic. I have not been able to find any information about lestes hybrids online.


Til min store skam prøvede jeg at fange dyret med de bare næver, og det lykkedes. Den var helt tam i fangstøjeblikket. Men den ville ikke give slip med fødderne på siddegrenen, så det føltes som om, at jeg hev og sled i den, og den til sidst ville gå midt over. Så jeg slap den igen, og den fløj langt væk og op. Øv hvor er jeg flov over at være gået på krompromis med min principielle indskydelse, som siger, at jeg ikke skal øve unødig vold på andre skabninger (det er nok, at jeg gør det på mig selv kontinuerligt). Hvorfor denne indskydelse, hvis ikke det er et tegn på moralsk forfald? Må tage mig gevaldigt sammen i det hele!

  Hybrid
Common Darter 3068    (3 photos)
Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (Dragonflies)
Stor Hedelibel (dk)   Libélula Estriada (es)   Större Ängstrollslända (se)  
2024-11-14    Søvang, Denmark

Imago. Male. Vandhullet.
Latest for me ever. I've been around looking for them during the first half of November, but except for the first few days I've found none. All because of the weather we've had lately, with typical overcast and dark conditions without a single ray of sun for almost two weeks in a row. Expected but still depressing. On the positive side we've been spared for rain and strong winds. But today the sun came out and I must admit that I had expected more animals to show up, taking the large numbers I had late in October into consideration. But not a single animals at all the good spots on Kalvebod Fælled, why I'm grateful that I at least got this one.

I didn't disturb the animal, though I'm not sure it would have reacted if I had. Flat, like glued to the rock trying to absorb as much energy from it as possible. Air temperature today was about 10C, and the temperature on the rock can't have been much higher since the sun was in a haze and the wind was fresh.

  
Black Darter 3065    (1 photos)    (1 videos)
Black Darter (Sympetrum danae) (Dragonflies)
Sort Hedelibel (dk)   Svart Ängstrollslända (se)  
2024-09-18    Grib Skov (nordsjælland), Denmark

Imago. Male & Female. Kagerup - Sandskredssøen. Egg-laying.
Several pairs in a small water hole in a clearing, egg-bombing as the sympetrums are accustomed to - the male grabbing the female behind the eyes and swinging her over the water while she releases the eggs.

  
Moustached Darter 3062    (2 photos)
Moustached Darter (Sympetrum vulgatum) (Dragonflies)
Almindelig Hedelibel (dk)   Libélula de Ocharán (es)   Tegelröd Ängstrollslända (se)  
2024-09-23    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Female. Villahøj.
The sharply-pointed vulvar scale, standing out perpendicularly is what indicates this species, despite of the invisible moustache and the limited yellow on the legs. Notice the very damaged wings.

  Hands on
Common Darter 3061    (2 photos)
Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (Dragonflies)
Stor Hedelibel (dk)   Libélula Estriada (es)   Större Ängstrollslända (se)  
2024-09-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Female. Pinseskoven.
The black moustache down the eye is part of the color of the frons, and therefore the moustache is short and better suited for a striolatum than a vulgatum [Almindelig Hedelibel]. However, the strong shadow along the eye is the major point of confusion here, and a good example of how important it is to get to see the facial details well, and preferably from more angles before reaching for an identification. The limited pale color on the front leg femur, is also in favor of a striolatum.

  
Moustached Darter 3059    (4 photos)
Moustached Darter (Sympetrum vulgatum) (Dragonflies)
Almindelig Hedelibel (dk)   Libélula de Ocharán (es)   Tegelröd Ängstrollslända (se)  
2024-09-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Female. Pinseskoven.
More angles can be necessary to be sure to judge the shape and extension of the black moustache correctly. In photo 2 you might get the feeling that the black is part of the frons rather than belonging to the moustache itself.

  
Moustached Darter 3058    (2 photos)
Moustached Darter (Sympetrum vulgatum) (Dragonflies)
Almindelig Hedelibel (dk)   Libélula de Ocharán (es)   Tegelröd Ängstrollslända (se)  
2024-09-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago. Female. Pinseskoven.
A good example of how tricky it can be to judge the shape and extension of the black moustache running along the eye, if the angle isn't good. In photo 1 it would be fair to think that the black at the bottom of the line is part of the eye, thus suiting a striolatum better [Stor Hedelibel], but in photo 2 it is obvious that the black is a moustache continuation from the broad top to the narrow tip.

  Hands on