Yet another Dragonfly I.D. please!. (1 Viewer)

alan_rymer

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2003

• #1

I have attached a digiscoped photo taken this morning at Dinton Pastures, Berkshire, England, of a pair of Dragonflies who were flying around in the same positions when I first saw then. Eventually they landed about 15 feet away. They were about 2 inches long. I had expected them to be identical like the Damselflies I commonly see, but they're not.


Can ayone tell me what they are please?.

P.S. I know, I know, they're dragonflies!.

 

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Kiki

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2003

• #2

They look like Migrant Hawkers Alan.

 

Forcreeks

If you want to see something new in nature!

• Sep 12, 2003

• #3

From U.S. Dragonflies, I can tell you a little.. not species. The Order of insect is Odonata; Family is Aeshnadae; the Genus is Aeshna, over here called Mosaic Darners or Blue Darners.. among the largest Dragonflies. These are very similar to our own Sedge Darners (Aeshna juncea) with the extra-wide stripes on the side of thorax. They frequent sedges and rushes at lake or pond edges. Obviously the two are mating in what's called, "wheel formation", sometimes called "in tandem." The males (blue one) don't land often, so this mating photo is a great opportunity to get both genders. Good work and thanks for putting it up.

 

Stephen Dunstan

Registered User

• Sep 12, 2003

• #4

Alan,

The yellow-green 'wine glass' shape at the base of the thorax is always a good pointer, you can just about see it on the male in this shot.

Stephen.

 

Ladybird

Ladybird

• Sep 12, 2003

• #5

I agree that it's Aeshna........maybe Aeshna constricta(lande-tipped darner. Really great picture. Thanks for posting it.

 

Ladybird

Ladybird

• Sep 12, 2003

• #6

that should be lance-tipped darner.......flubberfingers!

 

alan_rymer

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2003

• #7

Many thanks Kiki, Forcreeks, Stephen and Ladybird.

I shall look those up!.

 

R

Richard

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2003

• #8

I agree with Kiki and Stephen. They are Migrant Hawkers. The time is right, the male has what I call a' T' on the thorax which Stephen calls a wine glass and the antehumeral stripe is thin.

Richard

 

Surreybirder

Ken Noble

• Sep 13, 2003

• #9

Yep, migrant hawkers. The antehumeral stripes are thin and short which rules out common hawker.

 

alan_rymer

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2003

• #10

All

Would that be Aeshna mixta - Migrant Hawker then?.
Looking on :
http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/frameset.htm?home&home
the colouring is very different, or is that just the Photo's they are using?

 

Stephen Dunstan

Registered User

• Sep 13, 2003

• #11

Alan,

Yes, aeshna mixta. The pictures show a different colour cast to yours but they are the same dragonfly.

Regards,

Stephen.

 

H

HH75

Well-known member

• Sep 15, 2003

• #12

Hi Alan,
Definitely Migrant Hawkers!
Harry H

 

alan_rymer

Well-known member

• Sep 15, 2003

• #13

Many thanks Steven & Harry.

I did a search on google for aeshna mixta and found photo's which were a match for these two!.