About 7 cm long.
Fine-art photographic collection
Aeshna cyanea
A large, fast dragonfly that patrols ponds and woodland rides.
About this species
Southern hawker
Aeshna cyanea(Müller, 1764)
Information reviewed15 July 2026
The southern hawker is a large dragonfly of ponds, lakes, canals and woodland-edge habitats. Adults patrol regular beats and catch insect prey in flight. In Britain it is widespread in England and Wales and is expanding northwards.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Odonata · Aeshnidae · Aeshna
Accepted · checked 2026-07-15
Europe to western and central AsiaBroad documented range — not a complete occurrence map.
Widespread across much of Europe and extending eastwards into Asia; in Britain it occurs through England and Wales and is spreading into Scotland.
Lowland ponds, lakes, canals, wetlands, gardens and woodland near freshwater.
Adults are on the wing mainly from late June to October, patrolling water and hawking along woodland rides.
Flying insects captured in the air; aquatic larvae are also predatory.
Solitary predator; males defend or repeatedly patrol feeding and breeding areas.
What makes this species remarkable?
It can hover and fly backwards as well as make rapid forward attacks on prey.
Males are often inquisitive and may approach and hover near an observer.
The large pale patches on the thorax help distinguish it from other dark hawker dragonflies.