| Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope (Sélys, 1839)) |
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Scientific name: Anax parthenope (Sélys, 1839) Common name: Lesser Emperor French name: Anax napolitain Order: Odonata Suborder: Anisoptera Family: Aeshnidae Wingspan: 100 mm. Biotope: Large surfaces of stagnant water, lakes, large ponds. Geographic area: North Africa, southern Europe and central Europe, central Asia east to China and to Japan. More abundant in the southern part of its range. Flight time: June to August (March to November in the Mediterranean regions). |
The Lesser Emperor's thorax is a uniform brown colour, it is followed by a yellow basal ring. The abdomen starts by a blue saddle which is in contrast to the following brownish segments. The eyes are green. Anax parthenope lays the eggs in tandem on the contrary of female Anax imperator which lays the eggs alone. The Anax parthenope holds its abdomen straight in flight while the Anax imperator holds its abdomen slightly curved downwards. The Lesser emperor bears a black triangle-shaped mark ahead of the eyes (this mark has the shape of a pentagon on the Anax imperator). |
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I have observed this Lesser emperor next to an Emperor dragonfly. We are here at the northern limit of its range. |
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I have tried to slowly approach but I have only been able to shoot two pictures before the Lesser emperor flies away. |
André Bon June 2010