Southern Hawker Dragonfly

Southern Hawkers have black bodies with green and yellow markings on their back. Males are often slightly brighter in colour and have blue bands on the end of their abdomen. They are similar to several other species of Hawker dragonflies and are often difficult to tell apart.

Although dragonflies are similar to damselflies, the two can be distinguished when they are resting; dragonflies keep their wings outspread and damselflies fold theirs together.

Adult Southern Hawkers can be seen flying from July to the middle of October. When they are breeding in late summer they are usually found near water where the females lay their eggs into plant tissue or rotting logs. At other times they are found along hedgerows, in woodland clearings and in gardens.

Adults feed on insects that they catch in mid-air. They can move through the air at high speed and use their strong legs to catch and hold their prey.

The larvae are aquatic and spend 1-3 years underwater before they emerge as adults. They feed on insects, tadpoles and small fish, which they lie in ambush for as they can only see a short distance.

Southern Hawkers are common in southern Britain, but much less so in the north of the country.