# Broad-bodied Chaser (*Libellula depressa*) The Broad-bodied Chaser is a beautiful dragonfly with a wide, flat body and bright blue or yellow colors. They love to fly around ponds and lakes, catching insects in the air. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Broad-bodied Dragonfly ![Broad-bodied Chaser](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Broad-bodied_chaser_%28Libellula_depressa%29_female.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Broad-bodied_chaser_%28Libellula_depressa%29_female.jpg) ## Appearance The Broad-bodied Chaser has a notably wide, flattened body. Males are striking sky-blue with distinct dark patches at the base of their hindwings. Females and juveniles are yellow-brown, making them look quite different from the males. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Libellula ## Interesting facts - Broad-bodied Chasers are often among the first dragonflies to colonize new ponds! - Dragonfly nymphs, called larvae, can breathe underwater by sucking water into their bottom! - Their huge eyes are made of thousands of tiny lenses, like a super-HD camera! - These dragonflies are fierce hunters that help control mosquito populations near water. ## Special abilities - **Super Sight:** Broad-bodied Chaser has enormous compound eyes that give them almost 360-degree vision, helping them spot tiny prey and avoid predators. - **Master Pilot:** Broad-bodied Chaser can control its four wings independently, allowing incredible hovering, darting, and acrobatic aerial maneuvers. - **Underwater Hunter:** Broad-bodied Chaser nymphs have an extendable jaw, or 'mask,' that shoots out to grab unsuspecting aquatic creatures. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 60-80 mm - **Size:** 39-48 mm - **Lifespan:** 400-1100 days - **Flight Speed:** 25 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding They are fierce hunters that catch and eat smaller insects in mid-air! - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat aquatic invertebrates; adults eat flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** midges, mosquitoes, flies, butterflies, smaller dragonflies - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** common house mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — as a flying adult - **Hunts:** house fly (*Musca domestica*) — caught mid-flight - **Eaten by:** common frog (*Rana temporaria*) — adults and nymphs - **Eaten by:** [European perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-perch) (*Perca fluviatilis*) — nymphs are prey ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Dragonflies are safe to watch, but don't try to catch them; they are delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Broad-bodied Chaser? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Broad-bodied Chaser's wingspan? 60-80 mm ### How big is Broad-bodied Chaser? 39-48 mm ### How long does Broad-bodied Chaser live? 400-1100 days ### How fast can Broad-bodied Chaser fly? 25 km/h ### What does Broad-bodied Chaser eat? They are fierce hunters that catch and eat smaller insects in mid-air! ### Where is Broad-bodied Chaser usually found? Wetlands ### How does Broad-bodied Chaser hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Vercors Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/vercors-regional-nature-park) — Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, FR · Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Broad-bodied Chaser: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broad-bodied-chaser)