A first for me.

[JohnP]

I was walking in my local wood last Thursday looking for butterflies when I spotted a Dragonfly flying in front of me, it suddenly darted off to one side. I then spotted it again and I could see it had captured something big, so I followed it until it settled. I actually disturbed it twice but eventually it settled long enough to just rattle off a couple of shots. I would have loved to have got better shots but that wasn't possible, until I saw this I had no idea that Dragonflies took insects as large as this as I've only seen them feeding on small stuff like aphids before. I can't be sure without seeing the Dragonflies back but it looks like an Emperor to me and the insect is a Scarlet Tiger moth.

[annie]

Great nature shot John.

 

[Guest Ron]

That's a great capture John, well done and I,ve learnt something also.

 

regards

Ron

 

 

[Ryewolf]

Well spotted, something I've never seen - dragonflies with prey that is. I didn't think they would take insects as large as that either.

[Clicker]

It's an education on here innit?

The more information there is accompanying these Bug pics ... the more I like it. Maybe that's the best way to get more Bug  people on here John!.

You have a captive audience too ... I shall look  for more things  now...  with six legs !

[Ryewolf]

Well, there's definitely been a lack of bugs/butterflies/dragonflies up here in Lancashire, even when the wather has been nice it's usually been too windy for macro shots.

[JohnP]

I don't think the weather is going to be any good for bug shooting this week which is a shame as some species are only around for a few weeks.

[bugmeister]

I've seen a dragonfly eating a damselfly, and a damselfly eating a spider,but never anything as large as this prey. Well spotted indeed

[JohnP]

I've seen a dragonfly eating a damselfly, and a damselfly eating a spider,but never anything as large as this prey. Well spotted indeed

It was a big surprise to me too... do you think it's an Emperor dragonfly? I'm not sure without seeing it's back.