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Southern Hawker

Aeshna cyanea

Photo by valentinezza
Published on Project Noah
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43.9925, 7.76624

Field Notes

Description:

The Southern Hawker or Blue Darner (Aeshna cyanea) is a 70 millimetres (2.8 in) long species of hawker dragonfly.
It is large, with a long body. It has green markings on the black bodies, and the male also has blue spots on the abdomen.
The adult eats various insects, caught on the wing. The nymphs feed on aquatic insects, tadpoles and small fish ambushed in the pond they frequent until they emerge as adults in July and August after three years’ development.

Habitat:

The Southern Hawker breeds in still or slow-flowing water, but will wander widely, and is often seen in gardens and open woodland. This is an inquisitive species and will approach people.

Species ID Suggestions

Southern Hawker

Aeshna cyanea

Comments (9)

Thanks Geodalist, you're right! My next step will be to buy a macro lens for my camera, so details will see even better! ;)
I had the good fortune to shoot a few close-up shots of a Swamp Darner dragonfly. They're SO BIG I quickly discovered it's impossible to show the entire dragonfly and show details of its body. So I changed my usual routine on the fly. I guess what I'm saying is since you can't have it both ways, it's better that your photo shows more detail. Hey, just helping you make lemonade from lemons, "valentinezza!" http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/11466543
Thanks to all! I'm only sorry because I cut its wing in the frame .. damn fast .. and emotion to see it still! ;)
Good catch! Darner dragonflies (as they are known in North America) are "fliers," not "perchers" -- you were fortunate to find one posing for the camera.
Thank you Marta! I was lucky to find one that was resting on a bridge's railing. :)
Beautiful! we saw some similar ones in Holland but they were very fast and did not settle in a place so we did not make pics. Nice spotting!
Thanks you again Faredin for your suggestion and thanks to Loren for your nice comment! :)
Very beautiful, even the metal is beautiful! :)

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