Southern Hawler Dragonfly.

The beautiful and intricate markings of a male Southern Hawker dragonfly showed up well today as it hung on the Choisia bush in my front garden. This hanging pose is characteristic of this species, which makes identification easier than it might otherwise be.  The very similar Common Hawker and Migrant Hawker  both have more blue colouration and much thinner antehumeral stripes, (the two greeny/yellow stripes behind the head)  than the Southern Hawker, but do not adopt the hanging perching position.

                Southern Hawker.       Click to enlarge.                       Photo. John Elliott