Southern Hawker

Prefers non acidic waters. Breeds in water line vegetation in well-vegetated, small ponds, often in garden ponds. Hunts well away from water and may be found hawking woodland rides well into the evening.

Very common in southern and central England and Wales, more local elsewhere (vagrant only to Ireland).

Similar in appearance to other Hawkers. Can be distinguish by its coloration and its broad, strongly coloured ante-humeral stripes on the back of the thorax.

• Length: 70mm
• Broad, bright ante-humeral stripes on the back of the thorax.
• Dark wing veins and (pterostigma) wing spots.
• Elongated triangular mark on segment 2 near the top of the abdomen.
• Male: dark with bright green and blue markings. Rare blue form only has blue markings.
• Female: brown with bright green markings.
• Very inquisitive dragonfly that will often come close.

Hawkers have a long streamlined body-shape.

38-48mm

Thin mask (more that 3.5x long than wide).