Emperor (dragonfly)

Emperor Dragonfly
	Male
	Female laying eggs
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Family:	Aeshnidae
Genus:	Anax
Species:	A. imperator
Binomial name
	Anax imperator; Leach, 1815
Synonyms
	Anax mauricianus; Anax mauritianus (lapsus)

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The Emperor Dragonfly^[2] or Blue Emperor,^[1] Anax imperator, is a large and powerful species of hawker dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae, averaging 78 millimetres (3.1 in) in length.^[2] It is found mainly in Europe and nearby Africa and Asia. As it wanders widely it can also be encountered elsewhere.

[edit] Identification

Males have a sky blue abdomen marked with a diagnostic black dorsal stripe and an apple green thorax. Females have a green thorax and abdomen.^[2] The male is highly territorial, and difficult to approach. The species lives by larger ponds, gravel pits, and slow rivers.

[edit] Behavior

This powerful dragonfly is one of the largest species in Europe. They frequently fly high up into the sky in search of prey, which includes butterflies, Four-spotted Chasers and tadpoles; small prey is eaten on the wing. The females lay the eggs into plants such as pondweed, and always lay alone.