Migrant Hawker Dragonfly
Fast Facts
Latin name: Aeshna mixta
Notable feature: Males: dark with blue spots and yellow flecks, blue eyes. Females: brown with yellow spots, brown eyes.
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Where in the UK: Found in England and South Wales.
Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) © Dan TP
The Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) is one of the smaller members of the hawker dragonflies. They get that name due to their hunting behaviour which is similar to that of a hawk, whereby they patrol in the air and swoop down on their prey. In Welsh, the name for dragonfly is Gwas y Neidr – which mean ’servant of the snake’!
It can be difficult to distinguish a Migrant Hawker from related dragonfly species such as the Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea) or Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea), particularly while they are flying! The British Dragonfly Society have a handy photograph guide for the key differences between species.
Typically, you will see adult Migrant Hawkers flying over or near to freshwater ponds, lakes and rivers. They are a lovely sight on a calm, sunny day in the late summer.
While we have an established population of Migrant Hawkers here in the UK, individuals from the continent also migrate to the UK to boost population numbers in the summer.
- Size: Body length 63mm
- Life span: Annual. In their adult form, they live around two months.
- Diet: Insectivorous predator as both a nymph and an adult.
- Reproduction: Dragonfly larvae spend their life underwater as aquatic creatures called nymphs. They are voracious predators, feeding on anything that moves, from other invertebrates to tadpoles and small fish. Their hinged jaw and a pair of pincers allow the nymphs to grab and hold their prey. Most dragonfly nymphs complete their development in one year, although some of the larger species of dragonflies can take between 2 and 5 years.
- When to see: See on the wing from the end of July to October.
- Population Trend: Stable.
- Threats: The loss of clean water pools and ponds is a threat to dragonflies and many other freshwater invertebrates.
- Interesting Fact: Hawkers are the largest and fastest flying of dragonflies! They can also hover and even fly backwards! Their hunting prowess in the skies is enviable.
How you can help:
Buglife work to increase awareness of invertebrates and support nature’s recovery through our projects and campaigns, but we need your help!
You can support our work by joining our community.
Or keep a look out for Migrant Hawker and share your finds – download the iRecord app and get recording! The British Dragonfly Society Recording Scheme will receive your records through iRecord.
The best thing you can do to help dragonflies in your garden or local community space is to dig a pond!
Do remember that we rely on donations to continue our work. If you have searched, found and learned about our incredible invertebrates on our website, please do consider Making a Donation, Becoming a Member or maybe even making a purchase in our shop. For more ideas on how to support our work find out how to Get Involved. Thank you 🕷
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