11 Abdomen dull yellow/yellowish brown.
Dark patch at base of hind wings
(sometimes also fore wings).
Abdomen broad, tapering towards hind
end. ...................................... 12
— Not as above ...................................... 13
12 Abdomen very broad, with distinct pale
yellow markings along the sides, and no
conspicuous black tip.
Fore and hind wings dark at base, but no
large dark areas elsewhere on wings.
Libellula depressa
female (or immature male)
(Broad-bodied Chaser)
— Abdomen not so broad.
Dark spot midway along leading edge of
each wing.
Conspicuous dark tip to abdomen. Libellula quadrimaculata
(Four-spotted Chaser)
13 Abdomen relatively broad, tapering
towards hind end.
Black markings as shown. Orthetrum cancellatum
female
(Black-tailed Skimmer)
— Not as above ...................................... 14
14 Wings strongly suffused with saffron
colouration in basal area, and mid-way
along leading edge.
(Rare migrant, occasionally seen in
Essex.) Sympetrum flaveolum
(Yellow-winged Darter)
126