Southern Hawker Dragonfly Aeshna cyanea

Southern Hawker Dragonfly
Colourful Southern Hawker male
The Southern Hawker Dragonfly, one of the large "hawkers," has a characteristic "V" shape in the top segment of its abdomen above a greeny-blue, sideways "B" shape.
Southern Hawker Dragonfly male
Southern Hawker male
While the female Southern Hawker is greener (less blue) than the male, the photo above right is of a (new) male camouflaged in green: the male has a slim waist and anal claspers.
Southern Hawker female with red legs This female (NW London) has red thighs.
Southern Hawker female She has a fatter "waist".
Southern Hawker Dragonfly Ladies like flowers (hunting butterflies).
Southern Hawker female Females have green eyes (no blue).
Southern Hawker female The same one as on the left - she has light brown thighs.
Southern Hawker Dragonfly female This female also has red thighs; photo by Kate Dalziel on the Lizard, Cornwall.
Southern Hawker
Southern Hawker
Head, thorax and waist close-up, with full and with blurred backgrounds.
Southern Hawker female green
A very green female.
Southern Hawker Dragonfly
Southern Hawker
Southern Hawker Dragonfly
The "eyes" on the thorax are another distinguishing feature.
Southern Hawker Dragonfly emerging from nymph
Southern Hawker emerged from nymph exuvia
A Southern Hawker Dragonfly newly-emerged from the exo-skeleton (exuvia) of its nymph (larval) phase.
Southern Hawker emerged wings together Initially wings are held together like a damselfly.
Southern Hawker emerged wings spread Then wings are spread to dry.
Southern Hawker Dragonfly The adult.
Southern Hawker nymph Southern Hawker nymph, a water-dwelling larva feeding on pond insects for its 3 years of aquatic life
Southern Hawker exuvium The nymph climbs out of the water and the exoskeleton is left once the adult dragonfly has emerged and flown
Exuvium mouthparts The nymph mouthparts
The redundant exoskeleton of the dragonfly nymph is variously referred to as exuvium/exuvia (neuter singular/plural) and exuvia/exuviae (feminine). The latter seems more usual.