For Anyone Interested in the Wildlife of the U.K.
Migrant Hawker Dragonflies
Identify It > Invertebrates Section > Dragonfly Section > Migrant Hawkers >
Scientific name: Aeshna mixta
Size: Wingspan approximately 80mm
Distribution: Found in many areas of England and Wales. Rare in Scotland. Range expanding.
Months seen: July to November
Life Span: Approximately 2 years, most of which is spent in the aquatic larval stage
Habitat: Woodland ponds, garden ponds and often seen hawking along woodland rides
Food: Insects (which are caught on the wing)
Special features: Feeds mainly in the afternoon and evening. When perched they hang vertically to catch as much sunlight as possible.
The male is brown with blue markings. The female is brown with yellow markings.
The Migrant Hawker is similar to the Southern and Common Hawkers. The main distinguishing features are the narrow stripes (antehumeral stripes) just behind the eyes on the thorax. On the Southern Hawker these are much broader. The Migrant Hawker also has a prominent yellow wine glass shaped marking at the front of the abdomen (see photo above). The Common Hawker doesn't have this marking.
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