| Aeshna
juncea |
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Common Name:
|
Common Hawker, Sedge Darner |
|
Odonata |
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Order:
|
Odonata |
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Suborder:
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Anisoptera |
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Family:
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Aeshnidae |
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Genus:
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Aeshna |
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Species:
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A. juncea |
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| The
Name |
Aeshna juncea (Linnaeus, 1758),
the Common Hawker or Sedge Darner is one of the larger species of hawker
dragonflies. It is native to Eurasia and northern North America. The flight
period is from June to early October.
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| The
Characteristics |
It is 74 mm (2.9 in) long with a
brown body. The male has a black abdomen with paired blue and yellow spots
on each abdominal segment, and narrow stripes along the dorsal surface
of the thorax. In the female, the abdomen is brown with yellow or sometimes
green or blue spots. The wings of both sexes display a yellow costa (the
major vein running along the leading edge of the wings). This species lacks
the green thorax stripes of the Southern Hawker.
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| The
Reproduction and Development |
| Adults are highly mobile and can
be seen hunting well away from breeding sites. Favoured feeding areas are
along edge of trees often flying at canopy level. At breeding areas males
are territorial but at low densities. Patrol low down searching for females.
Females lay eggs alone whilst perched
at edge of water. Eggs are inserted into plants or wet substrate. Eggs
hatch after winter diapause. Development takes a minimum of two years but
in colder areas may take 4 years. Larvae live amongst vegetation and capture
prey by ambush, or less frequently by pursuit. Emerges at night close to
edges of pools in low vegetation.
Flight period from mid June to October,
preferred environment includes oligotrophic and mesotrophic pools and small
lakes in blanket bog, raised bog and locally in fens.
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| The
Distribution |
Ranged throughout northern and central
Europe with some isolated populations in southern Europe. Also across northern
Asia to Japan and northern North America from Alaska to Newfoundland.
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| The
Protection Status |
| Common and abundant throughout its
range. |
|
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Hawker
http://www.habitas.org.uk/dragonflyireland/5624d.htm
http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/aejun.html
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| The
Species on Stamps |
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