[5] With a typical length of around 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) it resides close to water bodies containing plants and has a flight season running from May to July.

The hairy dragonfly has coupled, oval-shaped markings on its abdomen, blue on males and yellow on females.

[8] The hairy dragonfly lives in ponds, lakes, fens, ditches, and canals rich in vegetation.

The hairy dragonfly's flight period is short and early, beginning in mid-May and ending in mid-July.

Two years later, larvae emerge by scaling plant stems just above the surface of the water or possibly crawling inland for about a meter where they have room to spread their wings.