David Element's Wildlife Web Page Dragonflies and Damselflies 37

David Element

Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images

_____________________________________________Dragonflies and Damselflies 37 - Migrant Hawkers

MIGRANT HAWKER Aeshna mixta (f)

This lovely female Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta brought an end to a drought so far as large dragonflies were concerned as they had been very elusive since the purchase of the photographer's digital equipment. Ironically he was just about to take a picture of a Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum on a nearby gate when he noticed this very well camouflaged specimen roosting on a Lime Tilia sp. and switched instead to the more impressive target. The colours of this female dragonfly were beautifully complemented by those of the September autumn leaves and although striking at close range they became cryptic from a distance, presumably explaining the reason for the selection of this perch. The markings of the thorax and the yellow triangle on the second abdominal segment are diagnostic for this species and the characteristically long abdominal appendages (claspers) are clearly visible in the second photograph. Photographs of male Aeshna mixta may be seen elsewhere on this web site.

· A film of a female Migrant Hawker Dragonfly ovipositing may be seen at: https://youtu.be/p_QtihwdDrA.