About

The downy emerald is one of three species of emerald dragonfly found in the UK. Although they all have a very limited distribution, the downy emerald is the most widespread, found in scattered locations from southern England to the highlands of Scotland. Downy emeralds are usually encountered around ponds and lakes close to woodland, with some overhanging trees. Their peak flight season is between May and July, and they will take to the wing in cooler, windier conditions than many other dragonflies.

Males patrol the edges of their chosen waterbody, flying fast and low as they search for females. They rarely settle on perches, but often hover for a short while. They're highly territorial and will regularly clash with other dragonflies that come too close, attacking different species as well as other downy emeralds. After patrolling for a while, they dart off into the trees to feed, returning to the water later on to patrol again.

After mating, females lay their eggs in areas of shallow water with a few submerged plants. They hover above the surface, dipping the end of their body into the water to wash off eggs. Once they've hatched, the spider-like larvae live amongst the fallen leaves at the bottom of the pond. They're ferocious hunters that prey on other aquatic creatures like midge larvae, doing most of their hunting at night. It can take two or three years for them to develop and be ready to emerge as dragonflies.