DRAGONFLIES are darting about in the September sunshine. The large hawker dragonflies approach the tiny flying insects that they feed on from beneath. With their large eyes, they are quick to detect any movement in the air. They hold their legs out in front of them, and the spines on their legs form a kind of basket in which their prey is caught.
Among these hawker dragonflies, the brown hawkers are the easiest to identify, with their gleaming orange wings and dark brown body with blue spots. On warm evenings, they will stay out hunting till late, often catching the insects that congregate under street lamps. The males track down females to mate with over rivers, patrolling to and fro along one stretch for a while, then moving on to another.
Another large dragonfly that is on the wing just now is the migrant hawker. It has gauzy wings, and a bright blue spot on its side. It often wanders into gardens. The little damselflies are also still out and about, often in swarms. They are like glinting blue matchsticks. They fold their wings along their bodies, while the hawkers keep their wings spread.
DJM