Lesser Emperor Dragonfly - Anax parthenope
Rare vagrant in Leicestershire and Rutland.
The Lesser Emperor Dragonfly was formerly considered to be a rare vagrant to the UK, from Continental Europe, but has become a regular migrant across much of the county in recent years and has been recorded breeding at a number of localities. Its first appearance in VC 55 in 2003 was therefore not unexpected, when a male was present at Priory Water between 15th and 26th July. Much more surprising was the appearance of another male, at the same site, between 1st and 7th August 2004. Breeding was not suspected and it would seem that the two records for the same site were simply an amazing coincidence; they remain the only recorded occurrences to date.
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Species profile
- Common names
- Lesser Emperor, Lesser Emperor Dragonfly
- Species group:
- insect - dragonfly (Odonata)
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Odonata
- Family:
- Aeshnidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 0
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% of records within its species group
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