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Hairy dragonfly resting on nettle flower

Hairy dragonfly resting on nettle flower

Hairy dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) resting on a nettle flower by a footpath along the River Avon at Stratford. The thorax of this species is covered in what looks like fine blond down in this individual. It’s a male; the females have what photos show as a stronger hairiness, and green on the abdomen where the males are blue.

Hairy dragonfly resting on nettle flower

An uncommon dragonfly, usually the first species to emerge in the spring. This one was spotted at the very end of its season, early this month.