Southern Migrant Hawker

Since 2010 the Southern Migrant Hawker has been breeding around the Thames Estuary. Over the past two decades reports of migrant influxes have become more frequent, with most sightings coming from the south-east coast.

Can often be found hawking along damp reedy ditches. Breeds in standing water in its normal, Mediterranean habitat.

• Length: 60mm
• Paired dots down the abdomen.
• Elongated triangle marking on segment 2.
• Very small antehumeral markings on the back if the thorax.
• Male: Blue eyes. Green/blue thorax. Dark abdomen with blue markings.
• Female: Brown eyes. Yellow and brown thorax. Brown abdomen with yellow markings.

Hawkers have a long streamlined body-shape.

30-39mm

Short mask (length less than 3x that of the width).

May be confused with other Hawker species.

Southern Migrant Hawker can be distinguished by its:

• Colouration
• Distinctive triangle marking on segment 2.
• Very small antehumeral markings on the back of the thorax.