Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis)

Size: - Approximate Length 73mm Wing Span 102mm.

Male: - The glowing amber wings of this hawker are diagnostic. The abdomen and thorax are uniformly brown. The side of the thorax is marked by relatively narrow parallel yellow humeral lines.

The lower flanks of abdominal segments 3 to 8 are marked with blue patches. On the upper surface of segment 2 are two blue spots. The abdomen is waisted at segments 2/3. The eyes are tinged with blue.

This narrative was kindly written and supplied by Mr Ken Crick

All Photography by Chris Brooks

Click on the thumb-nails to enlarge the images.

Female: - Possesses the same diagnostic amber coloured wings. There are no blue spots on segment 2 & the abdominal flank markings are yellow. The abdomen is stocky and lacks a waist. The eyes have a yellow tinge.

Status: - Found throughout the Southeast & Midlands of England and either side of the border with Wales. Ireland’s population appear to be thinly spread across most of the land mass. Where found in England it is one of the most regularly encountered large species.

Habitat: - Canals, lakes, gravel pits, ponds, slow flowing rivers and ditches.

Flight period: - Mid June to mid October.

General: - Males are territorial both holding beats along the waters edge and at locations well away from water. Males are rarely confrontational; this may be because they will desert an unproductive territory more rapidly than other Aeshna. Flight appears almost effortless with a few wing beats followed by a glide.

Turns are gracefully executed. Having secured a compliant female the joined couple adjourn to the top of a nearby tree to copulate.

Female’s egg-lay alone into emergent plants just below the waters surface. They also lay into rotting wood both in and out of the water. Occasionally a number of females are seen depositing eggs in close proximity to one another.