Photos

Photos of Scare Chaser - Libellula fulva taken at the River Great Ouse in Roxton.The difference between the immature's bright orange , and the adult's blue (male) and brown (female) colourings can clearly be seen.

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  River Great Ouse, Roxton
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  River Great Ouse, Roxton
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  River Great Ouse, Roxton
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  River Great Ouse, Roxton
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  River Great Ouse, Roxton
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  River Great Ouse, Roxton
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  Male, River Great Ouse, Roxton

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  Male, River Great Ouse, Roxton
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  Female, River Great Ouse, Roxton
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  Male, River Great Ouse, Roxton
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  Male, River Great Ouse, Roxton. Post copulation marks are clearly visible on the abdomen.
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  Male, River Great Ouse, Roxton

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Main Features

Classification:

Odonata
	Anisoptera			True dragonflies
		Libellulidae		Chasers, Skimmers, & Darters

As immature dragonflies, both the male and female are very distinctive, with a striking dark yellow/orange body with a black dorsal stripe along the abdomen. The wings feature vivid orange venation, long dark pterostigma and dark spots both at the base and wing tips. The eyes are a chestnut colour.

The female yellows with age, eventually becoming brown, the eyes also darken to a more grey colour. Males mature to have a blue pruinescence, in common with other Libellula species, a black tipped abdomen, and the eyes turn blue.

Could be confused with the Broad-bodied Chaser but the Scarce Chaser has a much slimmer abdomen, the dorsal stripe in females, and more extensive black tipped abdomen and lack of any yellow on the abdomen separate these two species. Male Black-tailed Skimmers are similar but larger, but they too have yellow areas on the side of the abdomen, as well as greenish eyes, and lack spots on the wings.

Habitat

Favours slow rivers, but also found at still water sites. Surrounding water meadows and areas of dense vegetation are important as hunting grounds, and tall vegetation is preferred for basking and guarding territory.

Where to see

Until recently, restricted to a few sites in the north east of the county at Wyboston, but now extending it's range. It's locally common along the River Great Ouse at Roxton. An individual was recently reported at The Lodge in Sandy, home of the RSPB.

Visible mid-May to late June