Predatie van Glassnijder (Brachytron pratense) op Viervlek (Libellula quadrimaculata) en op Smaragdlibel (Cordulia aenea)

During a first visit to the nature reserve De Weerribben (Overrijssel, the Netherlands) on 9 May 2009, a female Brachytron pratense was observed during a successful kill. Its prey turned out to be a Libellula quadrimaculata which was caught in flight. After having eaten the eyes and weak parts of the head, the female Brachytron pratense flew off. A second visit to the same locality on 20 May 2011 resulted in the observation of a male Brachytron pratense which caught a Cordulia aenea. Some time later a second male was seen attacking another Cordulia aenea. The thorax of the latter was partly eaten by Brachytron pratense. After one minute the male Brachytron flew away, leaving behind the still living male of Cordulia aenea. To our knowledge, these are the first published reports of hunting behaviour by Brachytron pratense on other dragonflies.