Anax parthenope (Lesser emperor)

Habitat: larvae associated with dense vegetation in ponds

General appearance: body very large sized, probably up to 50mm long; head pentagonal with some pale markings especially a cross between eyes; apex of labial palp with squarish corner (cf. gently curved in most of Anax spp.), bilobed ligula with median cleft; abdomen spindle-shaped, dark brown with two pale submedian lines along abdomen; lateral spines on abdominal segments VII - IX, but without dorsal spine