The Common Hawker is a delicate looking insect that has a long abdomen and long fine wings. It can be found throughout the country, especially in the north and west. It can be seen flying around ponds, ditches and pools on heathlands and moorlands around June to October. It is a strong flier that likes to fly fast and low over water.

The Common Hawker has a body length of around seven centimetres and a wingspan of about nine centimetres. The wings look like they have a yellowish tinge to them and on the front edge of each wing a distinct yellow vein is noticeable. The female Common Hawker has a brown-black abdomen with green spots which run in pairs along the length of the abdomen and the male has a black abdomen with blue paired spots. The male also has two thin yellow stripes on its thorax. The thorax is the middle part of the body between the head and the abdomen. The Common Hawker has two very large eyes and six long black legs.

The female Common Hawker lays her eggs under water on vegetation near to the edge of a pond, pool or ditch. Larvae, called ‘nymphs’, hatch out of the eggs and live in the water for nearly two years feeding on tadpoles and water insects. When the nymphs eventually leave the water, they develop into adult Common Hawkers.