Lesser Emperor

Anax parthenope

Rare or regular vagrants & possible breeding species in Britain.

This species can be easily distinguished by the multicolored upper surface of frons and by the shape and relative lengths of the anal appendages.

Its labium and labrum are golden-yellow and face and frons are greenish yellow and eyes are green, bluish when aged. Its thorax is pale olivaceous brown with dark brown sutures.

Its segment two of the abdomen is turquoise blue.

Segment three has a large blue patch at each side, brighter on Males than Females.

Segments 4 to 9 have an irregular black middorsal stripe.

Segment 10 is black.

Flies from June-September.