Four-spotted chaser (ruskohukankorento)

Four-spotted chaser or skimmer, known also as ruskohukankorento (Libellula quadrimaculata) is most common dragonfly in Finland. We have around 60 species of dragonflies living in Finland of which 14 species live as high as in Lapland (here you can find map of Finland).

Dragonflies are one of the oldest groups of insects

Did you know that dragonflies are one of the oldest groups of insects. Based on fossil findings, dragonflies have been present for about 325 million years. The Meganeuridae species were as high as 70 centimeters, making them the largest insects ever to have lived on earth.

Living habitant

I photographed these dragonflies in Porla, Lohja, Finland in sunny (+30C) Sunday afternoon. In Porla are several old fish bonds and as there is water also dragonflies are found there.

Four-spotted dragonflies live in all kind of waters from bays to lakes. The species are also found near streams, but typically occurs most abundantly in overgrown ponds and bays as in Porla.

Predators eat meat

Dragonflies eat variety of insects, such as flies, barnacles, mosquitoes, aphids and butterflies, sometimes even smaller dragonflies. A dragonfly eats at least one-fifth of its own body weight in one day. In rainy and cold weather, the dragonfly is unable to embark on a predatory flight. Let´s see if they survive over the rain and cold weather we got yesterday, namely temperature dropped 15 degrees and it is raining heavily!

Photos

I live in Finland, which is a small country in Northern Europe. I am an amateur photographer and love nature. This blog contains stories and photos from Finnish nature. I hope you have enjoyed my dragonfly post!

Take care, Minna 😊