The British Dragonfly Society (BDS) is planning a new atlas
of British and Irish dragonflies and damselflies for 2013. Though recording across
North Wales has intensified since 2000 there
are still many gaps in our recording of all species and your observations are
greatly needed to help fill these. Please note that this is the last year to
contribute to this atlas and I would encourage you to send in your observations
before it is too late. I have the task of processing all such records and
making sure they go into the national system. A copy of all BDS records
for North Wales also goes to COFNOD.
 |
Mating Blue Emperor (Anax
imperator).This species
was a rare sighting before the late 1990s when
it moved
north and north-west into the region. It is now widespread
and even
breeding in the mountain tarns of Snowdonia.
Is this due to climate change? |
Dragonflies and damselflies, which breed in either running
or still water depending on species, are under increasing stress from habitat
loss and pollution. They are extremely sensitive indicators of water quality as
they are also of Climate Change and worldwide there are many changes taking
place in their distribution. Nationally, new species are moving north and
entering
Britain from the
continent and, even for the relatively small region of
North
Wales, several species have extended their ranges to become
resident here since around 2000. So it is important to establish just where
each species is currently breeding so we can monitor future changes. Your
records will also shed light on the phenology of these intriguing insects.
 |
Female Large Red Damsel (Pyrrhosoma
nymphula). This
year the species was observed to emerge
on the 6th April
which was a record for the earliest emergence.
Is this due to climate change?
|
Though lively and beautiful, sun-loving dragonflies and
damselflies have never been as popular as, say, butterflies and moths but the
publication of several new field guides has led to a surge in interest. Currently
35 species have been recorded from
North Wales
although four of these are occasional migrants from the Continent and are not
known to have bred here. They are particularly popular with wildlife photographers
as they pose an interesting challenge in technique. As they are very active
flying creatures, identifying adult dragonflies can appear daunting but in reality,
and with a little practise, it should not prove that difficult if one is
patient enough to wait until they settle up. Their colours are sexually
dimorphic: males are more brightly and distinctively coloured and the easiest
to identify; females are typically cryptically coloured and with some species
of damselfly there may be a bewildering array of colour forms. Poorly coloured
emergent and immature adults (tenerals) are difficult to identify and are
therefore best avoided by beginners.
 |
Male Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea). Llyn Tecwyn
Isaf is the only known site in North Wales where
this species is known to breed. The larvae live
amongst the leaf litter of tree-lined lakes.
Are there any other lakes with this species in North Wales? |
As regards where to record, I’ve
attached a map showing what the state of recording is for each 10 km square
across
North Wales. This is the resolution
that will be used in the new BDS atlas. The numbers refer to the potentially ‘missing’
species for each square. The squares with red numbers are my target areas. But
records from anywhere are most welcome as we also need to understand the
distribution at more detailed scales and it is hoped to publish a more detailed
account for
North Wales at a later date. The
actual ‘missing’ species are shown in the attached Excel chart with the use of
abbreviations.
As regards what details to give,
the minimum criteria would be date seen, location name, 6- or (better) 8-figure
grid reference and the name of the species seen (with photos if possible to
confirm identification – quality is not that important). Of more help in
recording would be numbers seen of each stage: adults (males and females),
copulation pairs (including tandem pairs), oviposition (egg-laying), exuviae
(larval skins), emergent adults. The latter two stages are really the most
important as they indicate positively that the species has bred successfully at
the water body. The best way of estimating numbers of each stage is: A = 1, B =
2-5, C = 6-20, D = 21-100, E = 101-500, F = >500.
An image showing the potentially missing species in North Wales can be viewed by
clicking here.
Please send the records in anytime
(much better late than never!) but if it was a really interesting sighting, for
example an indication of a migration underway, a prompt response would allow me
to say something in a current ‘North Wales Dragonfly Newsletter’; this is
copied onto the Cofnod website. More detailed records are best sent in using
Excel format with separate columns for each stage entry. Examples of the way to
send records in is provided by the BDS website page:
http://british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/recording-dragonflies-and-damselflies-british-isles.
Send records to me at my e-mail address:
allanrowenconwy@sky.com.
Dr Allan Brandon, North Wales Dragonfly Recorder for the British Dragonfly
Society. (all images and content from Allan Brandon)
I’m not sure how long
this armour-plated naiad took to mature beneath the water before finally emerging
to crawl out of its exoskeleton as an adult dragonfly.
I’m not sure how long
this armour-plated naiad took to mature beneath the water before finally emerging
to crawl out of its exoskeleton as an adult dragonfly.
