• Dragonflies belong to the Order Odonata which means "toothed jaws".

• There are only about 12 common British species and 8 species of the smaller.

• Their names give a clue to their identity: Hawkers cruise at eye level ; Darters dash from place to place ; and Skimmers fly low over the water.

HABITAT & FOOD NEEDS.....

• The commonest species breed on ordinary farm and garden ponds.

• Fast flowing streams and rivers are shunned by most dragonflies.

• Bogs and wet heath land support the most diverse species of dragonfly.

• Adult dragonflies feed on flying insects especially small flies, midges and mosquitoes.

• Dragonfly larvae feed on moving prey such as water fleas, snails, tadpoles and small fish.

ATTRACTING THE SPECIES TO YOUR GARDEN......

• A garden pond, sheltered but not shaded with a mixture of bank side vegetation, emergent, submerged and floating plants.

SPECIES IDENTIFICATION & RECORDING......

• Mature males have orange / red abdomen while juvenile and females have yellow / light brown abdomen..

• Present in a wide range of habitats from ponds and lakes to ditches and streams.

• Often rests on the ground.

• Emergence takes place in early morning from mid June to October.

COMMON WASP (Vespula vulgaris)

INTERESTING FACTS......

• Wasps can be classifed into three groups ... social, solitary and parasitic.

• The Common Wasp is a social insect and lives in colonies of up to 10,000 workers.

• Only the female wasp can sting.

• Only the Queen wasp will survive the winter by hibernating.

HABITAT & FOOD NEEDS.....

• Wasps are found in burrows in gardens, woods, meadows and buildings.

• The Common wasp builds a nest out of chewed wood and saliva. It is made of layers of cells into which eggs are laid.

• Wasps are omnivorous feeding on fallen fruit, nectar, carrion and especially insects.

ATTRACTING THE SPECIES TO YOUR GARDEN......

• Fruit trees with over ripe fruits will attract wasps.

• Plants and flowers attracting other insects.

• Providing sugar solution.

SPECIES IDENTIFICATION & RECORDING......

• Yellow head with black top, black thorax with yellow on sides, yellow abdomen with black bands.

• Black antennae and yellow legs.

• Grows up to 19 mm in length.

COMMON SWIFT (Apus apus)

INTERESTING FACTS......

• Swifts spend most of their lives on the wing. They only land when nest building and rearing young.

• They winter in sub Saharan Africa and return to Britain in early May.

• Country folk called them "Devil birds" because of their loud screaming sound.

• A relative of the swift, found in Asia, builds nests which are used in "Birds Nest Soup".

HABITAT & FOOD NEEDS.....

• Swifts feed, mate and sleep on the wing.

• They feed on "aerial plankton" which consists of small insects and spiders light enough to be carried high on air currents.

• Swifts nest in colonies in holes in caves and trees, but more commonly under the eaves in old buildings.

SPECIES IDENTIFICATION & RECORDING......

• Black-brown plumage with a white chin patch.

• Long, scythe-shaped wings 40-44 cm across.

• Short, forked tail.

• They have small feet with all 4 toes pointing forward so they cannot perch.