Hairy Hawker (Brachytron pratense)
Species
Male Hairy Hawker (Brachytron pratense). Taken at Otmoor, Oxon on April 30th 2011. Approx 2.25x lifesize.
Male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon on April 30th 2011. Click image for larger version.
(1/160th sec at F13. Approx 1.5x life size.)
Male Hairy Hawker (Brachytron pratense). Taken at Otmoor, Oxon on April 30th 2011. Approx 2.25x lifesize.
Side view of male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon on April 30th 2011. Click image for larger version.
(1/200th sec at F9. Approx 1.5x life size.)
Hairy Hawker (Brachytron pratense) mating wheel. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon on May 31st 2009. Approx 2.25x lifesize.
Mating wheel. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon on May 31st 2009. Click for larger version.
(1/250th sec at F10. Approx 1x life size.)

© David Hastings

Description

Wingspan: 64-74mm; Body length: 54-63mm
 
The smallest British Hawker, emerging before other species in late April and May. It has a distinctly hairy thorax, oval spots on each abdominal segment and a long, thin pterostigma. The male is dark in appearence and the spots on the abdomen are blue. It has green ante-humeral stripes. The female has yellow markings and much shorter ante-humeral stripes.
 
It prefers standing or slowly flowing waters with rich riparian and aquatic vegetation such as reedy canals and marshes.

Sightings

30-Apr-2011:Otmoor, Oxon (3m)
21-May-2010:Otmoor, Oxon
31-May-2009:Otmoor, Oxon