Lesser Emperor Coloring Pages

The King of Dragonflies! The Lesser Emperor!

Among the dragonflies you can see in Japan, the Lesser Emperor is extra big and flies super fast. It is like the "King of Dragonflies!" It looks so cool as it zips smoothly over the water, almost like it is on patrol!

Name Origin: A Shining Silver Waist Belt

In Japanese kanji, the name of the Lesser Emperor is written as "Silver Dragonfly."

• People say it got this name because the base of the male's tummy (around its waist) sparkles in silvery white.

• Big dragonflies belong to the "Darner" family. So, the shiny waist and big body come together to make its Japanese name!

When Can You See It?

You can see the Lesser Emperor flying around happily from about April to November.

• The best time to spot them is during summer break, from July to September.

• In warm areas, you can see them from early spring to late fall. That gives you a long time to enjoy finding them!

Where Can You Meet One?

The Lesser Emperor loves watery places like ponds, marshes, and rice fields.

• They live all across Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. They really like calm water in flat lands and low mountains.

• Males keep flying back and forth over the water to guard their area. If you watch the water closely, you can spot one easily!

What Does It Eat?

The Lesser Emperor is a flying "hunter!"

• It cleverly catches and eats small flying bugs in midair, like moths, flies, horseflies, and mosquitoes.

• Sometimes, it even catches butterflies that are as big as itself. It is a strong, meat-eating insect with a big appetite!

Its Colors Are So Pretty!

The Lesser Emperor has a bright yellow-green color from its head to its chest.

• Male: Its waist area is a beautiful light blue (silvery white), and its tail is dark brown.

• Female: It is yellow-green to yellowish overall. It does not have the male's blue belt, but it has a calm, pretty look.

• Its big eyes look like sparkling green jewels!

Amazing Flying Skills

The Lesser Emperor can keep flying for a long time without stopping even once.

• It can move its four wings separately. It is great at sharp turns and hovering still in the air.

• Thanks to this awesome flying power, it can catch bugs right in the air!

Secrets of Laying Eggs

The way the Lesser Emperor lays eggs is very special.

• Most dragonfly mothers lay eggs all by themselves. But for the Lesser Emperor, the male and female stay attached in a line while putting eggs on water plants!

• If you see two flying attached together, they might be looking for a nice place to lay eggs.

The Baby Is a Dragonfly Nymph

A baby Lesser Emperor is a nymph that lives in the water.

• The nymph has a sleek body. It grows big by eating tiny creatures in the water.

• After living underwater for a few months to a year, it climbs up a plant at night to transform into an adult!

Do Some Lesser Emperors Travel?

We now know that some Lesser Emperors travel very far when the seasons change.

• This dragonfly has amazing energy! It can even fly across distant seas.

How to Choose Colors: Color It Bright like a Real One!

The Lesser Emperor has clear color parts. It is so much fun to use different colors for each part!

• Head and Chest Colors: Color here with "bright yellow-green." Mix in a little yellow to make it look sunny!

• Waist Spot (For Boys): This is the coolest part! Try using "bright light blue" to make it shine!

• Tail (Abdomen): It is brown or black, but it has small patterns on each joint. Color carefully to make it look real!

• Eyes (Compound Eyes): Use "deep green" or "blue-green" to make them sparkle like gems!

Cool Tricks to Make Wings Look Clear

This page has beautiful lines for the wing patterns.

• Leave It Uncolored: Wings are clear! You can leave them white, or add very light blue or light yellow just on the edges to show clear wings.

• Trace the Lines: Trace the pattern lines with a light gray or brown pen. It makes the fine wings look extra cool!

• Make It Sparkle: Add a little silver colored pencil where the light hits. It makes clear wings shine!

Make the Body Look 3D!

The Lesser Emperor has a round stick-like body.

• Add Shadows: Color the bottom of the chest and tail joints with a bit of dark brown or gray. Just doing this makes it look like it pops off the page!

• Make It Shiny: Leave a tiny bit of white down the middle of its back. It will look smooth and shiny!

Draw a Background to Show the Season!

• Water View: Try drawing cattails and lily pads around it!

• Summer Sky: Draw a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds behind it. You will have a great summer scene of the Lesser Emperor flying on patrol!

The Speedstar of the Dragonfly World

Lesser Emperor is super good at flying. It can fly at an amazing speed of over 70 kilometers per hour! It zooms around as fast as a car. It is the speedstar of the dragonfly world.

Its Name Comes from "Silver" Patterns

It is bright yellow-green from its head to its chest. The male has a special beautiful light blue (silver) pattern on its waist. People say it got the name "Lesser Emperor" because this part flashes like silver while it flies.

Eating Meals While Flying!?

Lesser Emperor is not just fast at flying. Its eyes are super good too! When it finds tiny bugs like mosquitoes or flies, it catches them in mid-air. It is an amazing hunter that munches on its food right while flying, without even stopping on a branch!

Patrolling Without a Rest

Male Lesser Emperor dragonflies often keep flying without taking a break to patrol their territory (their favorite spot) over ponds and rice fields. If another male comes along, it chases him away at top speed to guard its home!