09 Aug 2022: Southern Hawker dragonfly
At the working session on Tuesday 9th August, we were privileged to be visited by a female Southern Hawker dragonfly (Aeshna cyanea). This is quite a common fairly large species, often seen around ponds in woodland clearings and gardens.
We have sunk several large plastic tubs into the ground in the lower parts of the pond, to retain water for aquatic organisms during the summer when the pond dries out. Each tub has a wooden ramp to allow animals to climb in or out of the tubs.
Most dragonflies and damselflies lay their eggs on or in slits in water plants just above or below the water surface. We thought the Southern Hawker was behaving rather strangely, trying to lay eggs on these wooden ramps, but this behaviour is mentioned in some field guide books as quite normal for this species. It remains to be seen whether any newly hatched larvae make their way into the tubs. They take two years to develop into adults.