Norfolk hawker Anaciaeschna isoceles

There are two brown hawker dragonflies found in Britain, the Norfolk hawker and the brown hawker. Clear wings, green eyes and a yellow triangle shape on the second segment of the dragonfly’s body are the main distinguishing features that separate the Norfolk hawker from the more common brown hawker with its brown wings and brown eyes.

The Norfolk hawker is a resident of the Norfolk Broads and north-east Suffolk. In Britain it tends to favour slow-flowing dykes and ditches where water soldier plants grow. The Norfolk hawker may be seen soaring above reed-fringed dykes hunting other insects or sitting perched on vegetation at NWT Hickling Broad and NWT Upton Broad and Marshes.

In late May and June mature dragonfly larvae (approximately 2 years old) climb out of the water onto an aquatic plant at night, where they emerge from their skin as adult dragonflies. Newly-emerged hawker dragonflies wait till early morning to fly off to wooded areas to feed. The adults reach sexual maturity after 2-3 weeks. The flight period of the Norfolk hawker usually finishes in mid-July.

Create your own wetland habitat. Build a pond in your garden. You may not attract Norfolk hawkers but you will help other dragonfly species. Stock your pond with native plants, ensuring you have a good variety of submerged and marginal plants.