Aeshnidae Collection

Great diving beetle (Dytiscus marginalis) and Dragonfly nymph (Aeshnidae), Europe, August, controlled conditions

Southern hawker (Aeshna cyanea) dragonfly in flight, Broxwater, Cornwall, UK. August

RF - Female emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator) laying eggs on garden pond, Broxwater, Cornwall, UK. July

Common hawker (Aeshna juncea) Brackish Moss NNR, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

female
Fabrizio Daminelli

Southern hawker (Aeshna cyanea) dragonfly in flight, Broxwater, Cornwall, UK. July

RF - Southern hawker (Aeshna cyanea) dragonfly in flight, Broxwater, Cornwall, UK. August

RF- Male Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) in flight, Arne RSPB reserve, Dorset, England, UK, July. Did you know? Dragonflies spend up to six years as drab aquatic nymphs for only a few weeks as

Aeshna juncea
Fabrizio Daminelli

new born
Fabrizio Daminelli

Hairy dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) male, resting on plant stem, Brackagh Moss National Nature Reserve, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, UK. June

DDE-90027925
Blue-eyed darner, Aeshna multicolor, Stanley Park, British Columbia Date: 06/09/2007

Common hawker (Aeshna Juncea) head detail, Brackagh Moss National Nature Reserve, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. July

Southern hawker (Aeshna cyanea) dragonfly in flight, Broxwater, Cornwall, UK. August

Southern hawker (Aeshna cyanea) resting, Somerset Levels, England, UK, August

Southern hawker dragonfly (Aeshna cyanea) flying in habitat, Joutsa, Central Finland, August

Illustration, Southern Hawker Dragonfly (aeshna cyanea), side view

Southern Hawker or Blue Darner (Aeshna cyanea), dragonfly hatching from the larvae skin or exuvia, stretching body and wings, Allgaeu, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Migrant Hawker (lower), Brown Hawker (upper)
Watercolour on vellum, c.late 17th century Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750). From the collection of Insect paintings by Dutch Artists 17th-19th Century. Held in the Library and Archives

Anax imperator, Emperor Dragonfly

Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta)

Emperor Dragonfly or Blue Emperor -Anax imperator-, female laying eggs, Gartenteich Schmellwitz, Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany

Large Emperor Dragonfly -Anax imperator-, freshly hatched, still drying and not fully coloured, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Southern Hawker or Blue Darner -Aeshna cyanea-, dragonfly freshly emerged attached to larva skin, Neunkirchen in Siegerland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Southern Hawker -Aeshna cyanea- in flight, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Migrant Hawker -Aeshna mixta- in flight, North Hesse, Hesse, Germany

Green-eyed Hawker -Aeshna isoceles-, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland

Emperor Dragonfly -Anax imperator-, empty larvae skin or exuvia, Versoix, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland

Southern Hawker Dragonfly, Aeshna cyanea, newly emerged from its exuvia on the leaf of a water soldier in a garden pond

Aeschna pilosa, dragonfiles
Plate 21, an illustration of two dragonflies from Libellulinae Europaeae 1840 by Toussaint de Charpentier

Aeshna sp. dragonflies
Dragonflies illustrated and described by Toussaint de Charpentier in Libellulinae europaeae descriptae e depictae (1840)

Anax imperator, emperor dragonfly egg
This spindle-shaped egg of the emperor dragonfly is typical of a species that lays its eggs inside the stems or leaves of plants. Next to the egg is the prolarva

Hawker dragonfly
A hawker dragonfly at rest, photographed in the Wildlife Garden at the Natural History Museum, London

Blue-eyed darner, Aeshna multicolor, Stanley Park, British Columbia

Male emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator). Showing the arrangement of the wings at the top of the thorax. The male is predominantly blue with a green thorax, whilst the female is predominantly green

Hairy dragonflies mating
Hairy dragonflies (Brachytron pratense) mating. In order to mate, the male grasps the females head with the claspers on the end of his abdomen

Emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator) emerging from its exuvia. The abdomen is hanging down as it has still not been pumped to its full length. The process of emergence takes several hours

Female emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator) laying eggs into a decaying iris leaf. Using its spur- shaped ovipositor, eggs are laid in plant tissue to give them protection form predation

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"Aeshnidae: Majestic Dragonflies and Diving Beetles of Europe" In the enchanting month of August, a new generation emerges as Aeshna juncea dragonfly nymphs transform into magnificent creatures. Alongside them, the Great diving beetle (Dytiscus marginalis) and fellow Dragonfly nymphs from the Aeshnidae family thrive in their watery habitats across Europe. Witnessed in Broxwater, Cornwall, UK, an awe-inspiring Southern hawker (Aeshna cyanea) takes flight with grace and agility. Its vibrant wings flutter against the backdrop of a summer sky, captivating all who behold its aerial dance. In this same location, a female emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator) delicately lays her eggs on a tranquil garden pond—a testament to nature's remarkable life cycle. Venturing further north to Brackish Moss NNR in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, we encounter another mesmerizing sight—the Common hawker (Aeshna juncea). This species thrives amidst the lush greenery of this protected reserve. Returning once more to Broxwater in Cornwall during July reveals yet another spectacle—an elegant Southern hawker dragonfly soaring through the air effortlessly. Its iridescent wings shimmer under the warm sun rays that illuminate its path. At Arne RSPB reserve in Dorset, England during July stands witness to an impressive male Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator), displaying his dominance as he glides through the air with confidence and purpose. Journeying back to County Armagh in June brings us face-to-face with a male Hairy dragonfly (Brachytron pratense). Resting upon a plant stem at Brackagh Moss National Nature Reserve, it showcases its intricate patterns while basking in nature's tranquility. These captivating moments captured by talented photographers remind us of the incredible diversity and beauty found within the Aeshnidae family.