The
hairy dragonfly (
Brachytron pratense) is a species of European
dragonfly in the hawker family,
Aeshnidae. It is found in Europe and Asia Minor, as far east as the
Caspian Sea, and resides close to water bodies containing plants with a flight season running from May to July. The hairy dragonfly is named for its hairy
thorax, distinguishing it from other hawkers. With a typical length of around 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in), it has a long, narrow
pterostigma and features coupled, oval-shaped markings on its abdomen, blue on males and yellow on females. This male hairy dragonfly on a
fern was photographed in
Burren National Park, County Clare, Ireland.
Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp
_male_Burren.jpg)
