Southern hawker

Freshwater Habitats

Forests and Woodlands, Freshwater Habitats, Grasslands and Prairies, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas

Since southern hawker adults are predatory insects, traps with live bait may attract them. naiads are also predatory, residing in aquatic environments where they feed on other small aquatic organisms.

The naiads of southern hawker inhabit freshwater bodies, such as ponds or slow-moving streams, where vegetation is abundant. They crawl on submerged plants and debris, hunting for small aquatic organisms. To find them, search by gently moving aside aquatic plants or examining the underside of rocks in shallow water. Adult southern hawker are typically found near the same water bodies, but they're also attracted to open areas for feeding and mating. Look for adults in clearings, along forest edges, or meadows close to water sources during daylight, especially in sunny conditions when they're most active. For observation, visiting these areas and keeping an eye on the airspace a few feet above the ground or water can be productive.

The best time to find adult southern hawker is during warm days, especially in the late morning and early afternoon when they are most active. For naiads, any time is suitable as long as you can access their aquatic habitat.

Adult southern hawker prefer sunny, calm weather for flying and hunting. Rainy or windy conditions reduce their activity. naiads are less affected by weather conditions since they are aquatic.