Male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on July 14th 2025. (© David Hastings)
(1/800th sec at f/11. Click image for larger version)
Immature male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on June 23rd 2020. (© David Hastings)
(1/160th sec at f11. Click image for larger version)
Immature male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on June 23rd 2020. (© David Hastings)
(1/200th sec at f13. Click image for larger version)
Female. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on June 23rd 2021. (© David Hastings)
(1/500th sec at f7.1. Click image for larger version)
Female side view. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on June 23rd 2021. (© David Hastings)
(1/500th sec at f7.1. Click image for larger version)
Mating wheel. Taken at Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon., on July 29th 2024. (© David Hastings)
(1/800th sec at f13. Click image for larger version)

Description

Wing span: 74 - 84mm; Body length: 57 - 66mm

The Southern Migrant Hawker is similar to, and often confused with, the Migrant Hawker. The male's bright blue eyes and abdomen, and largely plain thorax sides are distinctive. Immatures and females are brownish, with pale thorax sides. The top of the thorax is brown with short shoulder stripes. The pterostigma are ochre-coloured and longer than in the Migrant Hawker.

This species is found quite widely in Europe, but is scarce in Iberia and north Africa. It has been breeding in Essex and Kent since 2010, and is spreading across southern England.

Its preferred habitat is standing water bodies which dry up over the course of the summer, often overgrown with emergent vegetation.

Adults are on the wing from May to August, earlier than the Migrant Hawker.

Males patrol low, at about chest height, frequently perching. It is the only aeshnid that lays its eggs while in tandem.

Earliest UK sighting: 23rd June ; Latest UK sighting: 12th August

Sightings