Blue Hawker

The Blue Hawker is a large, strong dragonfly, growing up to 70mm long. It can be recognised from other hawkers by the male’s bright green markings on the middle part of its body and pairs of blue spots along its tail. Female Blue Hawkers are mostly green and brown. Both males and females have wide pale stripes on the upper part of the body near the wings and dark marks on the wings themselves. This dragonfly prefers still or slow-moving water and is less dependent on large lakes or rivers than other hawkers. It often breeds in garden ponds, ditches, and pools in wooded areas. The Blue Hawker is common and found across most of Britain and Ireland. It flies from June to October, with the highest numbers seen in August and September. Males guard areas along the edges of woods and hedges, often hunting well away from water. This species particularly likes shaded, acidic water surrounded by plants.