This is our earliest dragonfly of the year, appearing from mid April onwards. When perched, the hairy thorax, from which it gets its name, is very evident. The thorax in the male is brown with green stripes and the abdomen is black with blue spots. Females are similar, but the blue is replaced by yellow.
National status
Becoming increasingly common and widespread across England and Wales, but rare in Scotland.
Status in Sussex
Rather localised along the county’s river systems and in its coastal wetlands but slowly expanding its range and consolidating this in the east. Listed in the Sussex Rare Species Inventory. It is unclear whether the slightly reduced number of 1km squares that the species has been recorded in during the last 15 years is due to changed recorder coverage or other factors.
Distribution at 1km scale
Historical records
According to Unwin’s account in Merrifield (1860), this species was frequently encountered during his surveying in the 1850s. Lucas and Bloomfield (1905) also listed reports from the Abbots Wood area near Polegate where it still occurs despite significant plantings made by the Forestry Commission. Craven (1922) and Dannreuther (1939) also included other sightings in their reports, but Chelmick’s survey results (1979) suggested a decline along the coastal levels and river valleys in the far east of the county. More sympathetic farming practices over recent years, encouraged by agri-environment schemes, probably accounts for the steady improvement in this dragonfly’s status.
Flight times
Mid April - early July. There is some evidence that flight times are becoming earlier.
Phenology (adult)
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Hairy Dragonfly habitat at Amberley Wild Brooks Photo: Simon Linington
Habitat
Clean, still-water bodies such as lakes, ponds, old gravel pits, canals and ditches with an abundance of vegetation.
Conservation
This species has been badly affected by intensive farming since World War Two. More recently, however, it has benefited from schemes such as Countryside Stewardship that have encouraged more traditional land management and helped protect wetland habitats like grazing meadows and associated ditches. At Amberley Wild Brooks, this species thrives only in areas where the typical grazing regime continues. The cattle poach the edges of the dykes and maintain open habitats for the males to patrol. The high banks from the excavated dykes provide shelter for flying during windy conditions. In areas of the Brooks where grazing has ceased, Hairy Dragonfly no longer occurs. Consistently warmer springs are leading to the earlier emergence of nymphs.
Similar species
See Southern Hawker for potential confusion species (and photographic comparison).
This is our earliest dragonfly of the year, appearing from mid April onwards. When perched, the hairy thorax, from which it gets its name, is very evident. The thorax in the male is brown with green stripes and the abdomen is black with blue spots. Females are similar, but the blue is replaced by yellow.
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Adult male Photo: Simon Linington
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female Photo: Simon Linington
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Adult female Photo: David Sadler
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female Photo: Simon Linington
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male Photo: Simon Linington
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ovipositing female Photo: David Sadler
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male Photo: David Sadler
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male Photo: David Sadler
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mating Photo: David Sadler
National status
Becoming increasingly common and widespread across England and Wales, but rare in Scotland.
Status in Sussex
Rather localised along the county’s river systems and in its coastal wetlands but slowly expanding its range and consolidating this in the east. Listed in the Sussex Rare Species Inventory. It is unclear whether the slightly reduced number of 1km squares that the species has been recorded in during the last 15 years is due to changed recorder coverage or other factors.
Distribution at 1km scale
Historical records
According to Unwin’s account in Merrifield (1860), this species was frequently encountered during his surveying in the 1850s. Lucas and Bloomfield (1905) also listed reports from the Abbots Wood area near Polegate where it still occurs despite significant plantings made by the Forestry Commission. Craven (1922) and Dannreuther (1939) also included other sightings in their reports, but Chelmick’s survey results (1979) suggested a decline along the coastal levels and river valleys in the far east of the county. More sympathetic farming practices over recent years, encouraged by agri-environment schemes, probably accounts for the steady improvement in this dragonfly’s status.
Flight times
Mid April - early July. There is some evidence that flight times are becoming earlier.
Phenology (adult)
1 / 1
Hairy Dragonfly habitat at Amberley Wild Brooks Photo: Simon Linington
Habitat
Clean, still-water bodies such as lakes, ponds, old gravel pits, canals and ditches with an abundance of vegetation.
Conservation
This species has been badly affected by intensive farming since World War Two. More recently, however, it has benefited from schemes such as Countryside Stewardship that have encouraged more traditional land management and helped protect wetland habitats like grazing meadows and associated ditches. At Amberley Wild Brooks, this species thrives only in areas where the typical grazing regime continues. The cattle poach the edges of the dykes and maintain open habitats for the males to patrol. The high banks from the excavated dykes provide shelter for flying during windy conditions. In areas of the Brooks where grazing has ceased, Hairy Dragonfly no longer occurs. Consistently warmer springs are leading to the earlier emergence of nymphs.
Similar species
See Southern Hawker for potential confusion species (and photographic comparison).
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