Confined to a small number of sites in the Scottish Highlands, the Azure Hawker faces an uncertain future. Pat Batty describes the conditions that this species requires, and potential conservation measures that can be used to mitigate further habitat loss and ensure its future as a breeding species in Britain.
The Azure Hawker Aeshna caerulea is a rare dragonfly with a British distribution limited to just five areas in Scotland. This species faces a growing threat from climate change, which is causing the boggy pools that are its favoured breeding habitat to go through more frequent and extended periods of drying out.