Aeshna grandis

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Cladus: Odonatoptera
Cladus: Holodonata
Ordo: Odonata
Subordo: Epiprocta
Infraordo: Anisoptera
Superfamilia: Aeshnoidea

Familia: Aeshnidae
Subfamilia: Aeshninae
Tribus: Aeshnini
Genus: Aeshna
Species: Aeshna grandis
Name

Aeshna grandis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms

Libellula grandis Linnaeus, 1758

References
Links

IUCN: Aeshna grandis (Least Concern)

Vernacular names
Deutsch: Braune Mosaikjungfer
English: Brown Hawker
suomi: Ruskoukonkorento
français: Grande æschne
magyar: Nagy acsa
Nederlands: Bruine glazenmaker
polski: żagnica wielka

The brown hawker (Aeshna grandis) is a large dragonfly about 73 millimetres (2.9 in) long. It is a distinctive species and is easily recognised, even in flight, by its brown body and bronze wings. At rest, blue spots on the second and third segments of the male's abdomen can be noticed; these are absent in female.

The flight time is mainly July to September. The nymph has stripes on the side of the thorax and distinct banding on the legs.
Distribution

Aeshna grandis is common in central and eastern Europe. In Europe, it can be found everywhere from Ireland to the Urals, with some exceptions like Scotland, northernmost Scandinavia and the Iberian and Apennine peninsulas. There is a population in the Balkans.

It is widespread in England but commonest in the south-east; local in Ireland and rare in Scotland. It is found on well-vegetated ponds, lakes and canals. It patrols a regular hunting territory around margins which is vigorously defended against intruders.
References
"Aeshna grandis". British Dragonfly Society. Retrieved 27 May 2011.