EMPEROR AND HAWKER DRAGONFLIES RECORDED IN OR NEAR RENISHAW HILLS
These are our largest and often most conspicuous Dragonflies due to most having bright colours, and being powerful fliers. They all rest by hanging vertically while clinging to a stem. Eleven species are found in South Africa of which six have so far been recorded in and around Renishaw Hills.
EMPEROR DRAGONFLIES
Four Emperors occur in South Africa and all four have been recorded in the Mpambanyoni Conservation Development Area. They are normally easy to identify because of their large size, their bright colouration and their habit of spending most of the day flying. They spend most time over still water such as the Mandawe River and wetland and the Mpambanyoni River, although they can regularly be recorded flying between the houses on the Estate.
1. Blue Emperor (Anax imperator)
 |
Blue Emperor male at rest
|
 |
Blue Emperor female at rest
To learn more about Emperor Dragonflies click on the image below:
 | Learn more about Emperor Dragonflies
2. Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger) Vagrant Emperor male at rest
Vagrant Emperor female at rest
To learn more about Emperor Dragonflies click on the image below:
|
|
3. Orange Emperor (Anax speratus)
 |
| Orange Emperor male at rest |
4. Black Emperor (Anax tristis)
Only recorded once at the Mpambanyoni causeway.
 |
| Black Emperor male at rest. |
To learn more about Emperor Dragonflies click on the image below:
HAWKER DRAGONFLIES
Seven Hawker species occur in South Africa of which only two have been recorded at Renishaw Hills. To date none of the day-flying Hawkers have been found, but two species of crepuscular (active at dusk and dawn) have been seen on the Estate.
5. Evening Hawker (Anaciaeschna triangulifera)
 |
Evening Hawker male at rest
|
 |
Evening Hawker female at rest
|
To learn more about Hawker Dragonflies click on the image below:
6. Little Duskhawker (Gynacantha manderica)
Attracted to light inside a unit on one occasion at Renishaw Hills.
 |
Little Duskhawker male at rest
|
 |
Little Duskhawker female at rest
To learn more about Hawker Dragonflies click on the image below: |
No comments:
Post a Comment