Blue Emperor (Anax imperator)

• English name: Blue Emperor
• German name: Grosse Königslibelle
• French name: Anax empereur
• Dutch name: Grote keizerlibel
• Swedish name: Blå kejsartrollslända
• Norwegian name: N/A
• Finnish name: Keisarikorento
• Danish name: Stor kejserguldsmed
• Italian name: Imperatore comune
• Czech name: šídlo královské
• Slovenian name: Veliki spremljevalec
• Bulgarian name: Царски пъстролет

Blue Emperor
(Anax imperator)

Not present

Present before 1990

Present after 1990

Present before and after 1990

Present after 2015

Map data based on J.-P. Boudot & V. J. Kalkman (eds.),
Atlas of the European Dragonflies and Damselflies

General		• a very large species, common and widespread throughout Europe but still rare in the very north
Classification		• suborder: Anisoptera (dragonflies); family: Aeshnidae
Conservation status		• IUCN Red List Europe: Least Concern
Scientific name		• Anax imperator Leach, 1815
Name genus		• Anax: from Grk. ἄναξ = master, ruler, king
Name species		• imperator: from Lat. imperator = commander, emperor
Distribution		• click or tap the Map button above
Habitat		• well-vegetated ponds and lakes
Dimensions		• typical body length: 66-84 mm; hindwing: 45-52 mm
Notes		• the female oviposits on her own, unguarded by the male, on floating vegetation
		• aeshnids are 'fliers': they spend a lot of time on the wing and seldom hang up for a rest
Both sexes	Head	➤ the black mark on top of the frons is pentagonal in shape
	Thorax	• the thorax is typically apple green, with only the thinnest of dark lines on the side and without an antehumeral stripe
Male	Head	• the eyes are blue-green
	Abdomen	➤ the abdomen is light blue, with a thick dark mid-dorsal line
Female	Head	• the eyes are green-yellow
	Abdomen	• the abdomen is light blue, pale green or beige, with a thick dark mid-dorsal line
	Wings	• the wings may have a suffused orange tint
Photographs		• nearly all of our photos below were made in Tuscany and the south of Italy