Usually referred to as Dragons and Damsels, these insects make up the order Odonata, of which there are around 55 on the British list.

Female Broad Bodied Chaser dipping (laying eggs)

Pleasley Pit is one of the best sites for Odonata in Derbyshire.

19 species have been recorded so far on site and on hot days from May till the end of October, they can be seen around all waterbodies, sometimes in large numbers.

Migrant Hawkers copulating in the typical wheel format.

Several species breed on the site and others are migrants. These include, Broad Bodied Chaser, Emporer, Four Spotted Chaser and Southern Hawker. As well as Black Tailed Skimmer, Brown Hawker, Common Darter, Black Darter, Red Veined Darter and the Ruddy Darter.

Four Spot Chaser by Vaughan Cooper.

Damselflies include Azure, Blue Tailed, Common Blue and Emerald.

Dragonflies and Damselflies include some of Pleasley's largest and most spectacular insects.