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Aeshna mixta
Common & widespread in Britain & Ireland.
A. mixta is a small Aeshna which appears dark in flight.
It is similar in appearance to other Aeshna species but has a characteristic "golf-tee" shaped mark on the second segment of the abdomen (S2) which is diagnostic.
In flight it looks like a small Emperor Dragonfly with a blue abdomen which, when seen from the side, curves down.
Males have a bit of blue on the abdomen.
Females are brown.
Flies from late July-October.
Scarcer in the North & Ireland.