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Odonata
Southern Hawker Dragonfly (Aeshna Cyanea)
wingspan : 9.5 cms
male : brown-green, blue marking on last 3 segments
female brown-green on all segments
juveniles : paler markings, sometimes yllowish
adult prey : flies, moths, butterflies, etc.
larval food : tadpoles and other insect larvae
Aeshna means ugly, and this is a face that only a mother can love, but I think that the patterns on the body are quite beautiful. Every time I walk along one of the smaller rides, one of these dragonflies pops out to see what I am up to. It will then return to its roost: usually hanging from a low-lying branch.
The most dramatic time is when I mow the grass. The blast of the exhaust disturbs thousands of insects from their resting places on the bushes and long grass. This is too good for the dragonflies to resist and the air around me is constantly full of dragonflies and their dinner.
First sighting - July 2007
Highest yearly counts
2007(Aug. ) - 5
2008 Sightings:
JULY w/e | | | | AUG w/e | | | | | SEPT w/e | |
| 5th | 12th | 19th | 26th | 2nd | 9th | 16th | 23rd | 31st. | 6th | 13th |
| 1 | | | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | | 2 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
2009 Sightings:
July w/e | | | Aug w/e | | | |
11th | 18th | 25th | 1st | 8th | 15th | |
| 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | |
| | | | | | |