Blue Spotted Hawker: Adversaeschna brevistyla

Blue Spotted Hawker in flight

male

Location: Big Swamp Wildlife Park, Bunbury, Western Australia

Season: Summer, December

Order: Odonata 

Family: Aeshnidae 

Genus: Adversaeschna

Adversaeschna brevistyla

This is a large dragonfly, about 7 to 8 cms long. It is a strong flier and hovers around about 3 to 4 feet above ground. It tends to stand still in flight and exhibits swift bursts of motions. I have seen Blue Spotted Hawkers hovering around water, while being chased away by territorial Blue Skimmers. This dragonfly is brown in colour with yellow stripes on the thorax and yellow spots on the thorax. The wings are golden in colour. What stands out is the blue eyes and the blue spots on the base of the wings, hence the name. Blue eyes are specific to males, females have brown eyes. The blue spots are visible from a distance, even when in flight. 

Reference: Ecology Solutions, Brisbane Insects, Wiki