Male. Taken at Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon., on June 12th 2023.
(1/640th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Male. Taken at Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria, on June 28th 2018.
(1/250th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Female. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on May 13th 2018.
(1/400th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Male of form praenubila. Taken at Whelford Pools, Gloucs, on June 14th 2017.
(1/640th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

Wingspan: 64 - 80 mm; body length: 40 - 48 mm

A medium-sized dragonfly. The sexes are alike, with a brown abdomen becoming darker towards the rear, a brown thorax and brown eyes. There is a row of yellow spots along each side of the abdomen. The most noticeable feature is the colouring of the wings. The nodus (half-way along the leading edge of each wing) has a very dark spot, which gives the insect its name. The wing bases are also dark. A colour form "praenubila" has a general darkening of the wing tips.

The Four-spotted Chaser is found throughout the British Isles.

It can be found in a wide range of standing waters, but the largest populations are associated with acidic heathland pools. It rapidly colonises new sites.

Mating occurs in flight, and is very brief. Eggs are laid in flight. They hatch after about four weeks and the larvae live in decaying plant debris. Nymphs take at least two years to mature into adults. The flight period is from late May to July.

Males are aggressively territorial, taking up positions on bankside or emergent vegetation, from where they launch missions to chase intruders or intercept a female. Favourite perches are usually around three feet off the ground, making identification and photography easy.

A common and widespread species.

Sightings

17-Jul-2023	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(2)
26-Jun-2023	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(1)
23-Jun-2023	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(3)
19-Jun-2023	:	Aston, Oxon	(1)
16-Jun-2023	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(2)
12-Jun-2023	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(4)
02-Jun-2023	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(6)
27-May-2023	:	Barnwell Country Park, Northants	(2)
26-May-2023	:	Barnwell Country Park, Northants	(1)
16-May-2023	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(1)
04-Aug-2022	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(3)
01-Jul-2022	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(2)
25-Jun-2022	:	Myers Allotment, Lancashire	(1)
20-Jun-2022	:	Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria	(1)
15-Jun-2022	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(1)
13-Jun-2022	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(3)
10-Jun-2022	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(2)
07-Jun-2022	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(2)
14-Jul-2021	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(2)
12-Jul-2021	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(5)
08-Jul-2021	:	Whelford Pools, Glos	(7)
05-Jul-2021	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1)
26-Jun-2021	:	Silchester Common, Hants	(8m,2f)
25-Jun-2021	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(2)
23-Jun-2021	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(2)
15-Jun-2021	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(4)
15-Jun-2021	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(4)
13-Jun-2021	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(10+)
07-Jun-2021	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(6)
07-Jun-2021	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(1m,1f)
03-Jun-2021	:	Bucknell Wood, Northants	(1)
16-Jul-2020	:	Parsonage Moor, Oxon	(1)
23-Jun-2020	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(1)
07-Jun-2020	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(3)
29-May-2020	:	Parsonage Moor, Oxon	(1m)
27-May-2020	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(2)
19-May-2020	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(5)
11-Jul-2019	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(2)
22-Jun-2019	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(2)
18-Jun-2019	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(3)
16-Jun-2019	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(4)
09-Jun-2019	:	Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon	(1)
03-Jun-2019	:	Otmoor, Oxon	(13)
03-Jun-2019	:	Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon	(2)
02-Jun-2019	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(6)
02-Jun-2019	:	Abingdon, Oxon	(1)
17-Jul-2018	:	Radley Lakes, Oxon	(1)
10-Jul-2018	:	Crookham Common, Berks	(2)
28-Jun-2018	:	Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria	(50+)
23-Jun-2018	:	Meathop Moss, Cumbria	(1)