The Four-spotted Chaser will often be the first dragonfly to be visible when approaching a pond; often involved in intense aerial combat with the equally aggressive Broad-bodied Chaser.
While sharing many similarities to with the Broad-bodied Chaser, the Four-spotted Chaser has a notably more slender abdomen.
Four-Spotted Chasers are instantly identifiable by the clearly visible dark spots on each wing (2 per wing, giving a total of 4 spots on each side, see photographs).
A regular percher, often returning to the same specific perch, makes the Four-spotted a relatively easy dragonfly to photograph.
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Widespread throughout the New Forest, males can be found at most water bodies, often coming into conflict with Broad Bodied Chasers. The marshes and stream adjoining the river at Tiptoe in the New Forest is a guaranteed location for sighting Four-spots.
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From early May to early August
Males and females are very similar, with each wing having two dark markings, one in the middle and one toward the wing tip (a total of 4 spots on each side, hence 'Four-spotted Chaser'). The abdomen is broad toward the thorax, quickly tapering to a point, and flanked by yellow markings on each segment. Males and females are very similar, with females having more of an orange colouration, and males predominantly dark grey in colour.
