SB10 - European Anax

Anax can always be separated from Aeshnas by eye shape and I thought I would start this page with a picture to show clearly the difference. On the left of this picture is Anax ephippiger with rather square eyes and a flat rear margin. On the right is Aeshna mixta with typical round rather forward pointing eyes and a curved rear margin. Easy to see when the specimens are together but not so easy when looked at in isolation.

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Anax males have a "process" above the epiproct which helps with identification:

Anax ephippiger (left)                                Anax imperator (centre)                     Anax parthenope (right)

process barely visible                             process longer than wide                      process wider than long

emphasised in red for clarity