Species account

Vagrant Emperor (Anax ephippiger)    (Burmeister, 1839)
   Hawkers (Aeshnidae) [Dragonflies]    VAEM    24808
Brun Kejserguldsmed (dk)   Emperador Errante (es)   Brun Kejsartrollslända (se)  
Synonyms (common):
Hemianax ephippiger (scientific)
Synonyms (scientific):
Aeshna mediterranea Selys, 1839
Anax senegalensis Rambur, 1842
Anax marginope Baijal & Agarwal, 1955
Measurements:
To 61-70mm Ab 43-56mm Hw 43-48mm
Generations:
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
Scan
EU
Identification:
Similar species:
Life stages:
After mating the female, in tandem, inserts the eggs into dead plant material near the water surface. The eggs hatch in a rapid few weeks, and the larvae develop equally rapidly during 2-3 months. However, whether this is the normal cycle of the species, or it is only based on the observations made during larger influxes to northern Europe (1995 especially), I'm not sure of. More information needed.
Distribution:
Primarily an African SW Asian species. Present most of Africa (except SW South Africa) and the Near Orient, including India. Probably regular around the Mediterranean basin, but vagrant in rest of Europe (has breed in Belgium and Netherlands recently). Also present in European Russia, and vagrant WC Asian. Also vagrant to Iceland, the Caribbean, Brazil and Japan. In Denmark only few observations, from Bornholm, Amager, Fyn and Jylland.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Endemic:
Status
Rare in Denmark. First recorded in 1995 where several larvae where found on Bornholm. Later several seen during large European invasion in 2019 where also breeding Thisted and Tårnby. Few observations after that, including two undocumented records in 2025 from Gedser and Jylland.
Comment:
Could be found all year as a result of warm air streams reaching Europe from the Sahara region. Also seen in Iceland.