Large Red Damselfly vs Migrant Hawker

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Large Red Damselfly	Migrant Hawker
Scientific Name	Pyrrhosoma nymphula	Aeshna mixta
Order	Odonata	Odonata
Family	Coenagrionidae	Aeshnidae
Size	33-36 mm wingspan	56-64 mm wingspan
Habitat	Gardens	Ponds & Lakes
Diet	Predators	Predators
Regions	Europe	Europe, Asia, Africa
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Large Red Damselfly

One of the first damselflies to emerge each spring in Europe, with a distinctive bright red body and black legs. It is commonly found at garden ponds.

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Did You Know?

Large red damselflies are among the earliest odonates to emerge in spring, often appearing as early as April when few other species are flying.

Migrant Hawker

A medium-sized hawker dragonfly that has significantly expanded its range northward in Europe. It flies late into autumn, often the last dragonfly seen each year.

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Did You Know?

This species often forms large feeding swarms in the autumn, with dozens of individuals hunting together over fields and along hedgerows.