- The PALE-SPOTTED EMPEROR This photo by jack Ferguson.
This is the female pale-spotted emperor laying eggs. This is a type of hawker dragonfly, although the American’s call them darners. The males (as shown yesterday) have a very strong territorial instinct so look for them on patrol.
Most dragonflies lay their eggs in water, sometimes inside the stems and leaves of emergent or submerged plants.
And just look at those huge eyes, yes, the eyes are one of the most dramatic parts of this incredible insect. It has approximately 30,000 ommatidia within its compound eyes, and it sees in colour. Its huge many faceted bulbous eyes means it can see in all 360 degrees around it, and they say 80% of the insect’s brain power is dedicated to its sight. It also has a flattened area right in front of its eyes with a concentration of eye cells that see directly in front. This is to ensure they capture their prey whilst in fast flight.
Here a dragonfly emerges as an adult from this last moult.
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