Aeshna caerulea
Aeshna caerulea (Strøm, 1783)
Local names: Azure hawker, Alpen-Mosaikjungfer, Azuurglazenmaker, Fjällmosaikslända
Species Information
Description
The azure hawker is one of the smaller species of the hawkers. The eyes meet only just, the adjacent area is diagnostically narrow at the top of the head. This can easily be seen with binoculars when it perches.
The males have azure blue, rather large spots on each abdominal segment. The lateral bands on the thorax are pale, light blue or yellow-white, narrow and wavy. Antehumeral stripes are reduced in males. Pterostigma color is varying from brown to orange. The leading margin of the wing is yellow-brown. Males have a white frons. Unique to this species is that the blue of the male pales to a more grey colour at lower temperatures.
The female color varies a lot but can be grouped into two forms; one is generally similar to the males but everything blue is more grey-blue, its abdominal spots are also smaller. The other form lacks all blue color and is generally brown with yellow or beige abdominal spots.
Both forms have characteristic triangular black markings on the last abdominal segments.
Antehumeral stripes are mostly absent in females, but sometimes vague remains can be seen.
Especially in the northern regions females have smoky dark wings.
Tenerals of both sexes are brownish with light to white abdominal spots.
Size
Habitat
Aeshna caerulea is adapted to live in areas with long and severe winters and short summers with low air temperatures, where many other dragonflies are unable to survive. It seems in warmer conditions it is out-competed by other large dragonflies, like A. juncea. In colder areas, its habitat range is broader, probably due to reduced pressure from other species. In the north of Europe it is predominantly found in lowlands, with a maximum breeding habitat altitude of around 550 m in Scotland.
The species is present in standing and sometimes slow-flowing water, namely in fens and bog ponds and depressions, palsa mires and sedge swamps in moors, heaths and tundra depressions. Above the tree line, it's mostly found in peaty ponds.
In its central European range, almost all records are from 1 000 m to 2 600 m with the main breeding habitats between 1 400 m and 2 200 m. Here it's found in bogs and permanent peaty water with a surface ranging from 5 to 80 m2 and water depth of generally 20 cm or less. The vegetation consists of peat moss (Sphagnums), sedges, and cottongrass. The water is frozen for large parts of the year but the water temperature can rise quickly during the day in spring and summer, exceeding 20 C.
Distribution
The species is widespread and can be found from northern Scotland to the Bering strait. It has a boreo-alpine distribution, being common and widespread at low elevation in the north in the Taiga and Tundra belts and having several smaller, disjunct, 'relict' areas of distribution in alpine areas of Europe.
In Europe it can be found in Scotland, most Fennoscandia (up to the very north), Estonia, northern Latvia and northern Russia.
In central Europe, the species is confined to mountains. Its reasonably widespread in the Alps, with many populations in Switzerland and Austria, and some in France. Italy has fewer than ten populations.Germany has some populations in southern Bavaria.
Other mountains where it can be found include the Sudete Mountains in northern Czech Republic and southern Poland and the Bohemian forest/Sumava Mountains on the border between Czech Republic and Germany.
Flight Period
Late May to August
Behavior
On hot sunny days males are very active, flying low and wide in search of females. Unlike A. juncea, males will also perch, basking on stones on the ground or light tree trunks. This behaviour warms its body and enables it to survive in colder regions.
It shelters in heather or similar low vegetation in dull weather. When hunting on a sunny day it can fly high above the trees in search for prey. Above the arctic circle, under the midnight sun, it can hunt almost 24 hours a day. It is active even during cloudy weather and can be seen flying even in lighter rain. In those conditions it flies low, in and among vegetation, scaring up insects.
Eggs are oviposited in small open water bodies, in sphagnum moss or other soft material. Larvae development takes two to four years, most often three years. Larvae live in shallow water, but often deeply burrowed in bottom material and can be hard to find. Exuvia are found low on upright straws or such, in or near water.
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Aeshna juncea, Aeshna subarctica, Aeshna crenata, Aeshna mixta
External Links
Genus: Aeshna
Aeshna, or the hawkers or mosaic darners, is a genus of dragonflies from the family Aeshnidae. Species within this genus are generally known as hawkers in Europe or darners in America.
Identification
Aeshna spp. are best identified by excluding other aeshnid genera. The species generally have dark bodies with coloured bands on the thorax and their abdomen is basically dark with a mosaic of paired coloured spots. Males have auricles and an anal triangle of 2-4 cells (except I. isoceles).
Separation from other genera
Brachytron are the closest relative, from which the Aeshnas differ by numerous, although somewhat relative, features. These includes Brachytron having an early flight season, smaller size, hairier body, thinner pterostigma and abdomen not waisted. In the hand it is easier to study diagnostic details of venation and markings. Anax differs in shape and wing venation, but is ruled out in the field by the plain thorax and pale abdomen. They also have a black band on the upperside (except the conspicuous A. immaculifrons). Boyeria and Caliaeschna differ in wing venation.
Separation of the species
A large and diverse group. The majority of the world's species occurs in North America. Each species, except for a few pairs of similar species, has several unique features.
Behaviour
Often seen hawking (hence the common name) in open but sheltered places. I can be glades or gardens, as well as over open waters. Foraging individuals often concentrate at good sites, especially towards the end of the day. Males patrol swiftly over water, often aggressively territorial. They usually follow a fairly fixed and often extensive route, frequently interrupting direct flight with hovering pauses and dashes toward other individuals. A, affinis is the only species that oviposit in tandem with the male, all other Aeshna females oviposit alone.
Family: Aeshnidae
The Aeshnidae, also called aeshnids, hawkers, or darners, is a family of dragonflies. The family includes the largest dragonflies found in Europe and North America and among the largest dragonflies on the planet.
Description
Common worldwide or nearly worldwide. Genera are Aeshna and Anax. The African Anax tristis has a wingspan over 125 mm, making it one of the world's largest known dragonflies. Most European species belong to Aeshna. Their American name darner stems from the female abdomens looking like a sewing needle, as they cut into plant stem when they lay their eggs.
The dragonflies mate in flight. The eggs are deposited in water or close by. The larvae (nymphs or naiads) are generally slender compared to those of other families, with a long and flat extensible lower lip (labium). The larvae are aquatic predators, feeding on other insects and even small fish.
The adults spend large amounts of time in the air and seem to fly tirelessly. They can fly forwards or backwards or hover like a helicopter. The wings are always extended horizontally.
The abdomen are mostly colored blue and or green, with black and occasionally yellow. The large, hemispherical, compound eyes touch in the midline. Individuals of this family have an extremely good sight, and are voracious insect predators.
A proposal has been made to split this family into Aeshnidae and Telephlebiidae.
The name may have resulted from a printer's error in spelling the Greek Aechma, a spear. The spelling Aeschnidae has been intermittently used over a period of time, but is now abandoned for the original name Aeshnidae. However, derived genus names (such as Rhionaeschna) retain the 'sch' spelling, as this is how they were first cited.