One of the largest dragonfly species in Europe, the emperor dragonfly or blue emperor (Anax imperator) is an impressively large and colourful dragonfly of ponds, lakes, canals and flooded gravel pits. Males are pale blue, with an apple-green thorax and a black stripe running the length of the body. The female is mostly green and also has the apple green thorax. Both have greeny-blue eyes. It flies up high to look for insect-prey, such as butterflies and chaser dragonflies. It catches its prey in mid-air and may eat it on the wing. It fits in Europe from June to August.
