Hawkers

infraorder Anisoptera - family Aeshnidae

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Dragonfly mating is unique. Male common hawkers are constantly patrolling the water's edge in search of females. Once one is found, he literally grabs her by the scruff of the neck with the claspers on the tip of his abdomen and tries to fly her away to a more private location. She'll either go along with him or resist till he gives up.  

The eggs being laid should hatch next spring to begin life as aquatic nymphs, growing & moulting while preying on other insect larvae and tadpoles. After 3 years or so, the adult Common Hawker will emerge to begin the life cycle all over again. 

The Migrant Hawker has been spreading north throughout Europe over the last few decades. It was uncommon in Britain until the 1940's and reached the Isle of Man in 1998 and Ireland in 2000. Now the breeding population here is boosted by migrants from continental Europe in the Autumn.