Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens provides a peaceful and unspoiled environment where nature thrives and is home to an extraordinary range of wildlife, especially insects. From those that crawl around in the silt to those that flutter along the banks, there is so much to be found around our lakes. Each and every one of these species perform a vital function for the ecosystem within our garden.  

Among the many different types of insects that can be spotted within the gardens, Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) are one of the most eye-catching and showy.  

Two interesting dragonflies found at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens 

Brilliant Emerald Dragonfly | Somatochlora Metallica  

This uncommon species has bright green eyes and a completely green body that is shiny and metallic all over so that it glints in the sunshine. It is quite a speedy dragonfly and it rarely pauses – darting around constantly that a good view can be hard to get. The female has a broader abdomen with her distinctive long vulvar scale pointing downwards from the abdomen, whilst the male has a tapered ‘waist’ at the base of his abdomen that then widens towards the end. 

This dragonfly is considered nationally rare and is only found in a few locations in South-East England and in Scotland. On a warm Summer’s day, you may see a few patrolling the margins of the lakes.  

Can be seen between the end of May to early September. 

Downy Emerald Dragonfly | Cordulia aenea  

This species breeds in the shady edges of the lakes around the estate, it is very similar to the Brilliant Emerald but as its name suggests, it is much hairier on its body and is a darker green, almost bronze colour and not as shiny. With a stronghold in South-East England, this dragonfly has a scattered distribution from Devon to the highlands of Scotland. It also emerges slightly earlier in the year than Brilliant Emerald. 

Can be seen between the end of April to mid-August. 

Did you know?  

Dragonflies first appeared on the planet about 300 million years ago, being one of the first type of insects, they pre-date the dinosaurs by many millions of years. Fossils of dragonflies have been found with wingspans of up to 60cm, this being five times larger than the biggest living species today.