Blue-spotted hawker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blue-spotted hawker
Female
Male
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Aeshnidae
Genus:	Adversaeschna Watson, 1992
Species:	A. brevistyla
Binomial name
Adversaeschna brevistyla (Rambur, 1842)
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The blue-spotted hawker is a fascinating type of dragonfly. Its scientific name is Adversaeschna brevistyla. This dragonfly is the only known species in its group, called the genus Adversaeschna. It belongs to the larger dragonfly family known as Aeshnidae.

About the Blue-Spotted Hawker

The blue-spotted hawker is a fairly large dragonfly. You can easily spot it by the two bright blue stripes on each side of its body, near its wings. These stripes are on its thorax, which is the middle part of an insect's body.

If you look closely, you can tell the difference between males and females. Adult male blue-spotted hawkers have striking blue eyes. Females, on the other hand, have brown eyes.

Where They Live and What They Like

You can find the blue-spotted hawker in many places. It is common across Australia and New Zealand. It also lives on Norfolk Island and some other Pacific Islands. However, scientists haven't confirmed if it lives in Australia's Northern Territory yet.

These dragonflies often live near water. They like ponds and marshes, which are wet, grassy areas. You might also see them in plants far away from water. While they prefer calm, still water, they can sometimes be found along slow-moving streams too.

Gallery

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  Female side view

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  Female

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  Male

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  Male body detail

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  Male tip of tail

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  Female ovipositing, depositing her eggs in a dam

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  Larva

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  Female wings

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  Male wings