Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis)
Species
Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis). Male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on August 2nd 2020.
Male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on August 2nd 2020.
(1/160th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis). Teneral male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on June 23rd 2020.
Teneral male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on June 23rd 2020.
(1/160th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis). Teneral male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on June 23rd 2020.
Teneral male. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on June 23rd 2020.
(1/200th sec at f13. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis). Female. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on June 23rd 2021.
Female. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on June 23rd 2021.
(1/500th sec at f7.1. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)
Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis). Female side view. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on June 23rd 2021.
Female side view. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on June 23rd 2021.
(1/500th sec at f7.1. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)

Description

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

The Southern Migrant Hawker (also known as the Blue-eyed Hawker) is similar to, and often confused with, the Migrant Hawker. The male's bright blue eyes and abdomen, and largely blue thorax sides are distinctive. Tenerals 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.

Sightings

05-Aug-2021 : Otmoor, Oxon (1m)
23-Jun-2021 : Otmoor, Oxon (1f)

02-Aug-2020 : Otmoor, Oxon (2m)
23-Jun-2020 : Otmoor, Oxon (2ten)

15-Nov-2018 : Extremadura, Spain (2+)
13-Nov-2018 : Extremadura, Spain (3+)
12-Nov-2018 : Extremadura, Spain (1+)
11-Mar-2018 : Fuerteventura, Canary Islands (1)

22-Jun-2014 : Cherna River, Bulgaria