Blue Emperor, Anax imperator, Bloukeiser

Kimberly

Male Somerset West Western Cape 17 12 2015

102 523 Moreleta kloof

Short description:

Blue Emperor, Anax imperator is large to very large sized, has a bright blue abdomen with brown markings on the upper side and a green thorax.

Family Aeshnidae    (Leach, 1815)
More Images:

102 523 Female Anac imperator Blue emperor Moreleta kloofImage
Gallery

100 2647 Anax Imperator Blue Emperor Nylsvlei LP RSA Apr 2016r 1Male
Close-up

124 505 Anax Imperator Blue Emperor Female Port Elizabeth ECP RSA Apr 2016f 1Female
Close-up

100 3472 Anax imperator Blue emperor Male Close up Rust De Winter LP RSA Sept 2017r 2Male
Close-up

 

 

Click on images to enlarge or view more

Key identification features:

Male:

  • Face light to greenish blue. Nose with transverse dark edge above, black basal spot. Top of head greenish blue. 100 2651 Anax Imperator Blue Emperor Nylsvlei LP RSA Apr 2016r 23  100 2650 Anax Imperator Blue Emperor Nylsvlei LP RSA Apr 2016r 15
  • Eyes bright blue above, greenish blue below.100 2651 Anax Imperator Blue Emperor Nylsvlei LP RSA Apr 2016r 23 100 2650 Anax Imperator Blue Emperor Nylsvlei LP RSA Apr 2016r 15
  • Thorax green with two turquoise green patches between wings. 100 2648 Anax Imperator Blue Emperor Nylsvlei LP RSA Apr 2016r 13   100 2650 Anax Imperator Blue Emperor Nylsvlei LP RSA Apr 2016r 15  100 2649 Anax Imperator Blue Emperor Nylsvlei LP RSA Apr 2016r 11
  • Wings clear, becoming smoky with age, veins brown. Pterostigmas long (4.8–5.0 mm), reddish brown.
  • Abdomen bright blue with variable wide black line running along top. 100 2652 Anax Imperator Blue Emperor Nylsvlei LP RSA Apr 2016r 28  100 2653 Anax Imperator Blue Emperor Nylsvlei LP RSA Apr 2016r 33

Female: 124 505 Anax Imperator Blue Emperor Female Port Elizabeth ECP RSA Apr 2016f 1

  • Face yellow and green face, with black dot on dorsal surface of frons.
  • Eyes are olive green.
  • Thorax light to mid green
  • Wings are very smoky in old individuals. Pterostigmas are long (5 mm) and reddish brown.
  • Abdomen s 1 is yellowish green. S 2 is mostly pale, light blue. S 3 pale blue below. Rest of abdomen chocolate brown.
Habitat:
  • Mostly standing and probably often temporary waters, but also rivers and possibly large lakes, in open landscapes Often with emergent and aquatic vegetation.
  • From 0 to 2800 m above sea level, but mostly below 1900.
Behaviour:
  • Blue Emperor, Anax imperator hawks rapidly up and down above the water surface.
Compared with other species:
Related Species

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution

Distribution map May 2020Distribution Map South Africa

South Africa Physical MapPhysical Map,
South Africa

Political Map South Africa Political Map
South Africa

Anax imperator Blue Emperor Africa Distribution Map Aug 2021Distribution Map
Africa

Physical Map Arica Physical Map
Arica

Political Map Africa Political Map
Africa

 

 

South Africa:

  • Widespread and common throughout South Africa.

Africa:

  • Algeria; Angola; Botswana; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Congo-Brazzaville; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Ethiopia; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Kenya; Liberia; Libya; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Republic of Guinea; Republic of South Africa; Rwanda; São Tomé & Príncipe; Senegal; Socotra (Yemen); Somalia; Sudan; Swaziland; Tanzania; Togo; Tunisia; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe
Further reading and information:

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