How long do dragonflies live in the UK?

Dragonflies live in the UK for up to 6–8 weeks. Dragonflies are a type of flying insect that have wings. They are classified as insects because they belong to the order of insects, which includes beetles, bees, and butterflies. Dragonflies have large eyes and long legs and are often called ‘wet feet’ because they do not have claws or feet like other insects.

Dragonflies have 4 wings which they use to navigate through water. They can fly very fast, reaching speeds up to 3mph (5km/h) in flight!

The dragonfly’s body is brown in color and has black spots along its back and wings. The male dragonfly has a large blue abdomen with white markings on it, while the female has a much smaller abdomen with red markings.

Dragonflies usually live for about 6 – 8 weeks, but some can live for up to 9 months. Dragonflies can be found in ponds and rivers, as well as on land. They use their wings to fly around their environment and find food, such as other insects or tadpoles.

What time of year do dragonflies come to the UK?

Dragonflies can be seen throughout the UK from early to late summer. They are found in ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes.

They fly in small groups of two or three and can be identified by their green coloring and large eyes. They are not particularly fast fliers, but they do have a range of habitats, including mossy bank edges, woodland, and river banks.

Dragonflies mainly eat insects such as mosquitoes and midges, although they will also feed on small fish or tadpoles if they find them. They use their proboscis to suck up any small prey that they encounter.

The female dragonfly lays her eggs on a plant called an egg raft, which is attached to the underside of a twig. The larva which hatches from these eggs looks like a tiny version of its parent with wings attached to its back legs. The larvae make their way to the surface, where it finds a suitable spot on which to pupate (transform into an adult).

They are often seen in large numbers, especially when there is a lot of water around.

Dragonflies are fast, agile, and difficult to catch. They can be found in different habitats and locations, including woodland, grassland, and wetlands. They can also be found over water at any time of year.

The adults of most species are brown or green with red markings on the wings, although some species have black markings on their wings. The larvae of dragonflies are aquatic creatures that live in ponds and rivers where they feed on small fish and other aquatic animals – they cannot fly away from predators like other insects.

What is the rarest dragonfly in the UK?

Norfolk hawker is a rare species in the UK. It is one of the first dragonflies to emerge in spring, following on from the lesser blue and green darner. It has a yellow body with black markings over its wings and thorax.

The male Norfolk hawker has a dark brown abdomen with dark brown bands on its wings and thorax, while females have pale green wings with a pale red border.

The Norfolk hawker is found throughout England except for the southeast and parts of Yorkshire, where it has been lost from former habitats due to habitat loss.

Norfolk hawkers are known for their habit of “hawking” insects as they fly around gardens, which can be annoying for gardeners who would rather not have them doing this!

The Norfolk Hawker is a rare and protected species of dragonfly in the UK. It was first recorded in Norfolk in 1891 and has only been seen there ever since.

The Norfolk Hawker is a large dragonfly with black markings on its wings and a redhead. It can be found in marshy areas, ponds, lakes, and rivers, but it is most common in Norfolk.

Conclusion

Dragonflies live in the UK for up to 6–8 weeks. The length of their lives is dependent on their species, with some insects living for just a few days and others living for months or even years!

Dragonflies are part of our natural environment, and they help to keep our rivers clean and healthy by eating insects that can damage plants and wildlife.