David Element's Wildlife Web Page Dragonflies and Damselflies 17

David Element

Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images

_____________________________________ Dragonflies and Damselflies 17- Common Hawkers

COMMON HAWKER Aeshna juncea (m)

The above pictures are of roosting male Common Hawker Dragonflies Aeshna juncea. They were obtained in the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Scotland and they are still images either scanned from transparencies over a lightbox or captured from an early mini-DV camera and therefore of a low-resolution when compared with modern digital equipment. They need replacing with better quality photographs when the opportunity arises but as the photographer needs to travel to see them this may not be happening for a while! This species has a predominantly western and northern distribution in the UK although it is also found at suitable heathland sites in the south east. The thoracic markings of hawker dragonflies are important identification features and comparative illustrations of similar Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta and Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea may be seen on several of the other pages on this site. Other British and European Aeshna species also require careful separation, particularly when in flight, and the use of a good identification guide is recommended.