Visual Key: Chasers (Libellula)

You have a Chaser (Libellula) of which there are three resident in the UK.

One has black spots at the wing nodes: four wing nodes, four black spots, hence quadrimaculata. Don’t be distracted/put-off by individuals of the form praenubila which have larger/stronger/smudged black markings.

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) f. praenubila

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa)

Our 2nd has a distinctive, very broad abdomen. It has extensive dark patches on both fore- and hind-wing roots, the latter encompassing the discoidal triangle.

Scarce Chaser/Blue Chaser (Libellula fulva)

The last has restricted dark patches with only a hint, scarcely more of a thin line, on the fore-wing root and that on the hind-wing root stops short of the discoidal triangle.

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