Flora & Fauna (media)

10142    (6 Photos)

Anax sp. (Anax sp.)

2026-09-17    Jægersborg Dyrehave, Denmark

Imago Garderhøj (Mines vandhul)
Out looking for Small Spreadwing (Lestes virens) I came across this well-consumed individual sitting in an abandoned and very deteriorated spider web.
The size made me assume an Aeshna hawker, probably a mixta, but as the photos show, there is no anal triangle present, why it has to be an Anax.

I marked the pink triangle and the yellow field below because I firstly came to the conclusion that the number of cells here would be reliable to make an id. But cross-checking with several individuals of the two relevant species, parthenope and imperator I have to conclude that it is not possible to distinguish the two from each other based on wing venation. Dijkstra's European field guide (2020) mentions that ephippiger is the only Anax to show 3 rows of cells in the yellow field, but I have a photo of an imparator that clearly shows 3 rows as well, why this is not a reliable field mark. Intra-specific variation is also large why one should be cautious when making an id in a situation like this.

Of course it is most likely an imperator!

Wings Dead