Head to head
Southern Hawker vs Emperor Dragonfly
Southern Hawker
VS Emperor Dragonfly
The southern hawker and emperor dragonfly are two large European dragonflies of ponds and lakes, but they hunt and defend their territories in different ways.
| Southern Hawker | Emperor Dragonfly | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Aeshna cyanea | Anax imperator |
| Size | A large dragonfly with green and blue markings | Ranks among the biggest dragonflies found in Europe, with a substantial wingspan |
| Diet | Flying insects such as flies and midges | Other flying insects, including smaller dragonflies, caught directly out of the air |
| Hunting | Hunts along woodland rides, hedgerows, and garden edges, often well away from ponds | Hunts almost entirely in the air, snatching prey out of flight rather than from a perch |
| Behaviour | Often hovers in front of people and other objects to inspect them | Males defend a patch of water, patrolling back and forth over their claimed territory |
| Flight | Hovers to inspect objects as it hunts along woodland paths and hedges | Capable of fast, continuous flight, patrolling for extended periods without resting |
| Habitat and range | Ponds, lakes, and slow streams, and the woodland and gardens around them, across Europe and into western Asia | Ponds, lakes, and slow-moving water across Europe and parts of nearby regions |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, and spreading northward in parts of Britain | Least Concern |
Southern Hawker vs Emperor Dragonfly: common questions
Which one eats other dragonflies?
The emperor dragonfly, which catches other flying insects, including smaller dragonflies, directly out of the air.
Which one hunts along woodland paths?
The southern hawker, which often hunts along woodland rides, hedgerows, and garden edges, well away from ponds.
Which one is bigger?
The emperor dragonfly, which ranks among the biggest dragonflies in Europe, with a substantial wingspan.