Dragonflies , hawking my bees in the evening

[sail819]

Hi,

Whilst sitting in the garden the other evening noticed a large Dragonfly doing circuits above the apiary. I swear the thing had a wingspan of 4 to 5" and a body length to match, it would fly a tight circle about thirty odd feet above my hives and then wing over and dive into attack a selected bee on its final descent. This went on for over Half an hour, then off it went. My wife says I'm exaggerating its size!! I tell you it was the same size as an Airfix model Spitfire!! Honest. Now thinking of scale size barrage balloons around the apiary.
Has anyone observed this before? I didn't think we had anything so large in the Dragonfly family in the UK. Have seen larger in other parts of the World. I intend to watch the "Battle of Britain" film this evening and get some ideas

 

[Excession]

Little bell for the guard bees?

'Dont run and tell, just ring this bell like hell!'

 

[garlicpickle]

Our biggest dragonfly is the bright blue Emperor dragonfly which can be upto about 4" wingspan

 

[BeeJayBee]

Our biggest dragonfly is the bright blue Emperor dragonfly which can be upto about 4" wingspan

Isn't that about the same same size as the Southern Hawker?
http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/southern-hawker
http://www.uksafari.com/southernhawker.htm

I've seen those catch and eat bees!

 

[garlicpickle]

Isn't that about the same same size as the Southern Hawker?
http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/southern-hawker
http://www.uksafari.com/southernhawker.htm

I've seen those catch and eat bees!

yep I don't think there's much difference in size, they sound like little biplanes when they pass over the garden!

 

[ultreen1]

Yes, last year for a few days my garden bees were attacked by a dragonfly! Very interesting to watch! I did worry about it and even posted on here for advice, I'd worry more about wasps than dragonflies!

 

[Chris Luck]

I have hawkers hawking my bees for much of the summer hawking up and down the hives.

Chris

 

[garlicpickle]

I'm sure far more bees die un-noticed while out foraging than get picked off by a hungry dragonfly

 

[pargyle]

[VID][/VID]

I'm sure far more bees die un-noticed while out foraging than get picked off by a hungry dragonfly

One of the big blue ones was dive bombing my hens out on the grass this afternoon ... biggest I've seen ever ! Even the hen looked a bit shocked ...

 

[victor meldrew]

More likely to be dive bombing the insects disturbed my your hens?
Vm

 

[Chris Luck]

Symbiotic relationships everywhere you look and of course the never ending food matrix.

I eat and am eaten.

Chris