Quick Facts

Scientific name:  Aeshna mixta

Size:  Body length approx 65mm.  Wingspan approx 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:  Flying invertebrates

Special features:  Migrant Hawkers feed mainly in the afternoon and evening.  When perched they often 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 Dragonfly 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). The Common Hawker doesn't have this marking.

Related Pages

• UK Safari Dragonflies Section
• UK Safari Damselflies Section
• Identify other wildlife
• Free Newsletter