David Element's Wildlife Web Page Dragonflies and Damselflies 10

David Element

Wildlife Photography

and Digital Video Images

____________Dragonflies and Damselflies 10

EMPEROR Anax imperator (m)

BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER Orthetrum cancellatum (m)

KEELED SKIMMER Orthetrum coerulescens (m)

BROAD-BODIED CHASER Libellula depressa

MIGRANT HAWKER Aeshna mixta (m)

SOUTHERN HAWKER Aeshna cyanea (m)

SCARCE CHASER Libellula fulva (f)

BLACK DARTER Sympetrum danae (f)

The Migrant Hawker is a south eastern species with a late flight period. It has has expanded its range in Britain recently, having originally established itself as a breeding species in the 1940s. It is very similar to the Common Hawker - see Dragonflies and Damselflies 17 but the antehumeral stripes of the Migrant Hawker are much reduced and the small yellow triangle on the second abdominal segment is absent in the latter species. Despite its name the Common Hawker is actually quite an uncommon insect in the south east of England. Migrant Hawkers are generally less territorial than most of the other large hawkers and they may therefore be seen in quite high densities, patrolling woodland clearings in small groups. They are also far easier subjects for photography than most of the other Aeshna species. Another illustration of a male is shown on Dragonflies and Damselflies 1

The Black Darter is the smallest of the Sympetrum species found in Britain. It is widely distributed with the strongest colonies in the north and west. The black colour of the fully mature male (see Dragonflies and Damselflies 28) is normally diagnostic in areas not also inhabited by the White-faced Dragonfly and there is little overlap of flight period between these two species. However, the females and immature males are predominantly yellow so there could be confusion with other darters during the early part of the flight period (July - September). See Dragonflies and Damselflies 1 for a head-on view of this species. The ventral 'spine' of the female is clearly visible in the photoghraph.

See Dragonflies and Damselflies 4 for additional illustrations and information about the Emperor.

See Dragonflies and Damselflies 9 for additional illustrations and information about the Black-tailed Skimmer.

See Dragonflies and Damselflies 5 for another illustration and further information about the Keeled Skimmer.

See Dragonflies and Damselflies 2 for an additional illustration and information about the Southern Hawker. The predominantly green markings are clearly shown.

See Dragonflies and Damselflies 1 and 5 for additional illustrations and further information about the Scarce Chaser. The extended black markings on the wings of the female are evident in the photograph.