26 of Britain’s 42 native dragonfly and damselfly species can be found in Hertfordshire and Middlesex and many of them at our nature reserves.
Now is a great time to look for Dragonflies and Damselflies as they thrive over the summer months; adult dragonflies are most active between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, when temperatures are at their highest. Dragonflies are cold-blooded and must warm themselves before flying, so in Britain flight is generally restricted to sunny weather.
Dragonflies and damselflies hunt for small insects while on the wing and persue their food at a surprising speed; dragonflies are some of the fastest insects in the world and can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, so head towards open water to spot them in action, hunting for insects.