Species account

Moorland Hawker (Aeshna juncea)    (Linnaeus, 1758)
   Hawkers (Aeshnidae) [Dragonflies]    MOHA    24801
Siv-mosaikguldsmed (dk)   Esna Brañera (es)   Starrmosaikslända (se)  
Synonyms (common):
Common Hawker (gb) Sedge Darner (us)
Synonyms (scientific):
Libellula ocellata Müller, 1767
Aeschna picta Charpentier, 1840
Aeschna rustica Zetterstedt, 1840
Aeschna picta caucasica Kolenati, 1846
Aeschna justi Pidancet, 1856
Aeshna crenatoides Bartenev, 1925
Aeschna juncea angustistyla Oguma, 1926
Aeshna juncea brachystigma Sjöstedt, 1927
Aeshna juncea americana Bartenev, 1929
Aeshna juncea atshischgho Bartenev, 1929
Aeshna juncea mongolica Bartenev, 1929
Aeshna juncea orientalis Bartenev, 1929
Aeshna undulata Bartenev, 1930
Aeshna baicalensis Belyshev, 1964
Measurements:
To 65-80mm Ab 50-59mm Hw 40-48mm
Generations:
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
Scan
EU
Identification:
Similar species:
Life stages:
Mating takes place in trees and bushes, and can last up to an hour. The lone female inserts the eggs into plant material, above or below the water surface, or even directly into mud or wet sand along the shore. The eggs overwinter and hatch the following spring. The larvae live in-between water plants and develop during 2-5 years. The imago-transformation takes place in vegetation low and near the shore.
Distribution:
Most of Europe; absent most of Iberian peninsula, Mediterranean basin, most of the Balkans and NW France. Also present Ukraine and Russia east through Asian continent to Japan. Also most of N American continent. In Denmark mainly Jylland and NE Sjælland.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Host plants:
Tørvemos (Sphagnum)
Siv (Juncus)
Star (Carex)
others and dead plant material
Endemic:
Status
Widespread on both sides of the N Atlantic, but in general declining because of climate changes. In Denmark stable in Jylland but apparently decreasing in NE Sjælland which is the only regular breeding area outside Jylland. The presence on Bornholm seems confusing with only 4 records in naturbasen, 2006-2017, but including larvae found, why one could have expected more to be found. Absent from the southeastern part of the country including Fyn (all public records are undocumented). Present on more isolated islands like Læsø, Endelave and Samsø. Not on Anholt.
Comment:
Moorland Hawker 3367    (2 photos)
2025-08-24    Langkær Mose (Bryrup), Denmark

Imago Male
Not enough time, and not the right photo gear to record this animal properly. My first juncea ever. The animal behaved very approachable while sitting on the trunk, and under normal circumstances a perfect portrait of this new species would have been the result. But I had to do with my wideangle lens and a camera body that has reached the point where it only fires occasionally. Luckily it did here, but too far from the the subject to be really good. The two photos shows different trunks, but I think it is the same animal.

I had 5 aeshna species here today; cyanea, mixta, grandis, juncea and subarctica.