2009 Ireland, Fauna & Flora - Dragonflies

Until recently, naturalists recognised eleven examples of the Odonata suborder, Anisoptera, or true dragonfly, and another eleven Zygoptera, or damselfly. Recently, there have been at least two additional permanent residents, the splendid blue-and-green Emperor Dragonfly or Anax imperator; and the Migrant Hawker or Aeshna mixta, with its unusual black-and-blue abdomen.

Several examples are known as 'hawkers' for their habit of swooping down like hawks to scoop up their prey, usually flies and other small insects. Many are splendidly coloured, inspiring craftspeople from the Art Deco period to incorporate their slim line form into stained-glass lampshades and items of adornment.

The stamps show several different species; the Irish Bluet Coenagrion lunulatum, the Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata, the Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens and the Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula.