Picture © 2005, , FBCP

Brown Hawker - Aeshna grandis

Locally common and widespread they can be seen on the wing between June and September. Both males and females are large, brown in colour with two pale yellow stripes on side of thorax and distinctive amber tinted wings which are very noticeable in flight. Males have a waisted abdomen with blue spots near the thorax and blue spots at the wing roots on the thorax. Females have yellow spots on the abdomen. Wingspan to 10cm (4in) and abdomen to 6cm (2.5in). Females oviposit their eggs into waterlogged wood or aquatic plants. Found over most of the central Uk, absent Devon and Cornwall, Scotland and most of Wales. Usually seen in large ponds, sheltered lowland lakes, streams and ditches, preferring well vegetated waters to breed in. The male is very territorial so it is not often seen in large numbers at any one site.

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