Welcome to the Dragonflies of Worcestershire
This site is intended as a follow up to the book "The Dragonflies of Worcestershire", keeping recorders informed about the latest distribution of dragonflies in the county. Records are always welcome of any sightings and you can forward those records in a number of ways (See ways of recording information), one simple way is to email this site using the Send sightings / Contactsend sightings/contact tab on the top bar.
The site also contains information about where to see dragonflies and what is going on in the county
The site also contains information about where to see dragonflies and what is going on in the county
All the 2016 records have been added - many thanks to all those who sent those in. Click here to go to the maps for each species or click the Maps for 2016 tab
David Attenborough gets a new dragonfly named after him in honour of his 90th birthday
|
Recent work in Madagascar has discovered several new species of dragonfly, and one has been named after Sir David. The dragonfly was already known but it was only recently realised that it was a separate species from the usual one found across Africa. As this is a relatively common species in Madagascar, it is appropriate that many people will see it and know it as Sir David’s Dragonfly. Acisoma attenboroughi
See it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03t2443 Dragonflies feature in local Book: The Nature of Wyre is a remarkably detailed account of the wildlife of an English forest on the borders of Shropshire and Worcestershire. The Wyre Forest is one of Britain’s most important ancient woodlands and its survival, just 25 miles from the centre of Birmingham, is a modern miracle. Its history and geographical position make it home to a stunning array of wildlife from all corners of the British Isles that includes Dippers, Slavemaker Ants, Narrow-leaved Helleborine orchids and Dragonflies . Edited by Brett Westwood, Peter Shirley, Rosemary Winnall & Harry Green. 2015. Pisces Publications, Newbury. 312pp, colour illustrated. ISBN 978-1-874357-69-8. HBK. £37.50
If you are local to kidderminster I will deliver a copy for £35.00 contact me |
Dragonfly Buzz
Someday, cicadas and dragonflies might save your sight. The key to this power lies in their wings, which are coated with a forest of tiny pointed pillars that impale and kill bacterial cells unlucky enough to land on them. Now, scientists report they have replicated these antibacterial nanopillars on synthetic polymers that are being developed to restore vision. See report in New Scientist
When did you last see a pair of Brown Hawkers in the Cop position?
The sight of lone females, egg laying isn’t unusual but apparently mating is not often seen and if work in Germany is anything to go on it may happen around sunrise. Researchers in Germany (Matutinal Mating in Aeshna grandis-Odonatologica Dec 2017 p 207-226) found that males would search for perched females around sunrise even it was wet and cool. This may be natural selection to pick the hardiest and keenest males apparently! We have very few sightings in Worcs so be on the lookout next year if you are an early bird!
The sight of lone females, egg laying isn’t unusual but apparently mating is not often seen and if work in Germany is anything to go on it may happen around sunrise. Researchers in Germany (Matutinal Mating in Aeshna grandis-Odonatologica Dec 2017 p 207-226) found that males would search for perched females around sunrise even it was wet and cool. This may be natural selection to pick the hardiest and keenest males apparently! We have very few sightings in Worcs so be on the lookout next year if you are an early bird!
|
Dragonflies are model for the latest drone design. Rather than using rotors this mimic uses four wings just like a dragonfly. Skeeter, as it is called, will have four independently flapping wings, a camera and microphone, and will fly at up to 45 kmph
|
|
Dragonfly brains predict the path of their prey showing skills previously thought to be only achieved by mammals
New research from Australia and Sweden has shown how a dragonfly's brain anticipates the movement of its prey, enabling it to hunt successfully. This knowledge could lead to innovations in fields such as robot vision. The Swedish-Australian collaboration resulted in the discovery of brain cells (neurons) in the dragonfly Hemicordulia that enables them to predicatively pursue and catch their flying prey. These neurons make it possible to focus on a small object that moves over a complex background, similarly to how humans can track and catch a ball, even when that ball is moving against the backdrop of a cheering crowd
New research from Australia and Sweden has shown how a dragonfly's brain anticipates the movement of its prey, enabling it to hunt successfully. This knowledge could lead to innovations in fields such as robot vision. The Swedish-Australian collaboration resulted in the discovery of brain cells (neurons) in the dragonfly Hemicordulia that enables them to predicatively pursue and catch their flying prey. These neurons make it possible to focus on a small object that moves over a complex background, similarly to how humans can track and catch a ball, even when that ball is moving against the backdrop of a cheering crowd
Female Dragonflies take a dive to avoid male advances
Reported in the New Scientist female dragonflies have been noted as using extreme tactics to get rid of unwanted suitors: they drop out the sky and then pretend to be dead.
Rassim Khelifa from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, witnessed the behaviour for the first time in the moorland (Common) hawker dragonfly (Aeshna juncea). While collecting their larvae in the Swiss Alps, he watched a female crash-dive to the ground while being pursued by a male. The female then lay motionless on her back. As soon as her suitor flew away, the female took off again. It is probably related to general evasion of predator tactics
Reported in the New Scientist female dragonflies have been noted as using extreme tactics to get rid of unwanted suitors: they drop out the sky and then pretend to be dead.
Rassim Khelifa from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, witnessed the behaviour for the first time in the moorland (Common) hawker dragonfly (Aeshna juncea). While collecting their larvae in the Swiss Alps, he watched a female crash-dive to the ground while being pursued by a male. The female then lay motionless on her back. As soon as her suitor flew away, the female took off again. It is probably related to general evasion of predator tactics
Scent of a Damselfly helps males choose a mate.
To date there is no evidence that damselflies use any sense other than vision (and tactile stimuli) in mate searching and sex recognition. However the results of research in Italy has shown that male damselflies of Ischnura elegans can distinguish between males & females using chemical clues. This is particularly significant where you find a number of colour forms as with this species and it is thought the antennae pick up the clues.
Frati F, Piersanti S, Conti E, Rebora M,Salerno G (2015) Scent of a Dragonfly: Sex Recognition in a Polymorphic Coenagrionid. PLoSONE 10(8): e0136697. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0136697
To date there is no evidence that damselflies use any sense other than vision (and tactile stimuli) in mate searching and sex recognition. However the results of research in Italy has shown that male damselflies of Ischnura elegans can distinguish between males & females using chemical clues. This is particularly significant where you find a number of colour forms as with this species and it is thought the antennae pick up the clues.
Frati F, Piersanti S, Conti E, Rebora M,Salerno G (2015) Scent of a Dragonfly: Sex Recognition in a Polymorphic Coenagrionid. PLoSONE 10(8): e0136697. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0136697
A Dragonfly is the world’s greatest traveller: The Globeskimmer (Pantala flavescens) has been known to be a long distance traveller for some time and for this reason has been chosen to be the logo of the World Dragonfly Association.
Caught in the Act
100 million years ago a male damselfly spotted a potential mate and began trying to impress with an intricate courtship dance. Unfortunately the damselfly, rather than enjoying the fruits of its labour, found itself encased in sticky tree sap, which later turned into amber. It is the first time the mating dance of ancient insects has been discovered fossilised in amber. The fossil which dates from the Mid-cretaceous period when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, was disclosed by researchers from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology in the journal Scientific Reports. The new species, Y. huangi, was named after the man who found the amber in Myanmar and gave it to scientists. |
Recent genetic work has proved that the species that occurs on all continents except the Antarctic are so close that they have all derived from the same lineage. Most dragonflies and insects never move far from their own pond leading to differences over geological time. Madagascar which has been an island for over 30 million years shows how creatures develop in localised ways as over 90% of dragonfly species are endemic ( only found there). Pantala probably moves 3000 miles in one go around the Indian Ocean and It shows that it easily beats the Monarch Butterfly, the other great travelling insect Citation: Troast D, Suhling F, Jinguji H, Sahlén G, Ware J (2016) A Global Population Genetic Study of Pantala flavescens. PLoS ONE 11(3): e0148949. doi:10.1371/journal
|
How much does a Dragonfly eat: more work on the Globe Skimmer by a Japanese University has found that a typical Pantala eats about 14mg’s of food a day equating to about 185 midge like insects. If you think what the population of this worldwide species is then the amount of insects eaten each year is staggering and good reason to encourage dragonflies in mosquito areas (Odonatologica vol 44 No 3 2015)
.
Ever wondered what is going on below the water surface in your pond? Check this super little film by Andy Holt. It takes you to places you would normally need a snorkel for: Here
Also a very interesting film made in Herefordshire from Sinclair Stammers of micromacro
.
Ever wondered what is going on below the water surface in your pond? Check this super little film by Andy Holt. It takes you to places you would normally need a snorkel for: Here
Also a very interesting film made in Herefordshire from Sinclair Stammers of micromacro
_There is a new look website for the Worldwide Dragonfly Association click here This new site holds a lot more information about dragonflies as well as the venue for the next biennial World Dragonfly meeting at Cambridge in 2017
This meeting was a great success with 4 days of cutting edge lectures and some fascinating sessions on Dragonfly Flight and sight
This meeting was a great success with 4 days of cutting edge lectures and some fascinating sessions on Dragonfly Flight and sight
|
Dragonflies have many predators including Wagtails, Hobbys and ants but we sometimes forget the larval predators like Kingfishers. Here is an interesting film of a Kingfisher at a private pond in Worcs, bringing a Hawker Larva back to his perch to whack it on the post before carefully eating it head first. The larva is probably a Southern Hawker. The moral is that it probably best to sit motionless when in clear water (see film here). Film and photo courtesy of Wildlife Kate
|
Clubtail Survey
There is a national survey to assess whether the Common Clubtail Dragonfly distribution is changing-possible for the worse. If you would like to help with that in Worcestershire let me know using the contact form
Click Here to see how the Club-tailed Dragonfly (Gomphus vulgatissimus) is faring on the River Severn at Bewdley this year
There are worries that this dragonfly is retreating from the River Avon so please let me know if you have any records near this river. This year there is a national Club-tail survey and the results will be made available when all the records have been collated
There is a book being prepared about the wildlife of the Malvern Hills and the associated common land, and the release date is May 2018. With one of the first ever records for the dragonfly database being in Malvern, dragonflies will feature in the book. Watch out for the pre-publication offer.
On the Wing 2018
|
22 April 2018 A bit delayed by the cold start to the year, the first signs of Large Red Damselfly were found when two shed larval cases were seen at Pershore Horticultural college today
|
On the Wing 2017
|
19 Sep 2017 It can be difficult to separate some of the darters, this one could be a Ruddy Darter and even looks like it has the tapered abdominal waist.
Looking at it from another angle, the light thoracic panels and the light line down the legs confirm it as a Common Darter 
There has been an early influx of the Red-veined Darter in Europe which has led to lots of these dragonflies emerging already in what would be normally considered unlikely dragonfly habitat such as urban fountains and ponds. If anyone sees any shed larval cases in unusual places here, could they check if they are likely to be these. They are easy to identify as the darter like cases have no spines on the back of the abdomen at all
04 Aug 2017 Not seen in the county since 2011, the Lesser Emperor made an appearance at Fox Hollies Park, Hall Green, Birmingham today. It isn’t the easiest dragonfly to identify on the wing, fortunately Des Jennings managed to spot the blue saddle, brown abdomen and green eyes of this cousin of our Emperor. The photo below was taken of the same species in Morocco
17 July 2017 The last of our regular dragonflies makes an early appearance this year when Migrant hawkers were seen at Grafton by John Tilt and at Malvern by John Lane. Difficult to identify when Southern and Common Hawkers are around but the slightly smaller size and then fact that several may be seen flying around together are a clue
01 July 2017 Good weather has brought the Small Red-eyed Damselfly out earlier than ever this year. This one snapped by Gary Palmer. Hot weather also produces lots of algae, in to which this damselfly quite likes to lay its eggs
20 Jun 2017 A welcome return after an absence of two years is the Red-veined Darter. Five were seen at Pirton today, I wonder if there are any at Grimley?
18 June 2017 Usually Emerald Damselflies sit with their wings partly open, hence the popular name spreadwings, this one though, shows it isn’t always the case
3 June 2017 Well there must be at least two Scarce Chasers at Hillditch Pool as Jason snapped this fully coloured male today
28 May 2017 When you get a really good sunny day damselflies often seem more evident at a pool. Gary Palmer sends this photo of (rufescens), one of the 5 female colour forms of Blue-tailed Damselflies he saw at Hillditch pool. When you get a reasonable sized population of Blue-tailed, several of these forms can be found. They are not actually recorded separately as they are the same species but you can enter the form as a comment on the record entry
26 May 2017 Today there have been a few Scarce Chaser sightings. One from Jason who, interestingly, saw one at Hillditch Pool. Last year it was thought that the local population may have petered out but they have managed to last another year. Others were also seen at Tyddesley Wood. In case anyone who is looking for Clubtail larvae cases along the Avon might find a Scarce Chaser instead, they are easy to identify as the Scarce Chaser has very extended spines on the back of the abdomen.
21 May 2017 Another dragonfly that has survived the rigours of dredging and strimming at Croome Court this year is this nice Broad-bodied Chaser, seen by John Stroud
18 May 2017 As was the case last year, the first White-legged Damselfly was seen on a pool, which possibly shows that pools can warm up a bit quicker than rivers. Normally they are thought to be a river species. Thanks to John Lane for this one
10 May 2017 A third species was reported today as a first sighting and this Broad-bodied Chaser came from Grafton Wood. This wasn’t particularly early for this species
09 May 2017 The Clubtail emergence is under way now with a big increase following some fine weather. Last year we saw that there are many challenges to face during emergence, like ants wagtails and the weather, but this one just seemed to die for no apparent reason other than the whole exertion of the process
07 May 2017 At last a warm sunny day after a run of cooler weather and immediately the first Azure Damselflies begin to emerge.
02 May 2012 The first Club-tailed Dragonfly of the year emerged today at Bewdley, not quite the earliest date but the river had gone cool in the last two weeks. Ideally the river needs to be at least 13ºC, which it generally is by mid May
18 April 2017 An extremely early Beautiful Demoiselle has been seen on the River Stour at Wilden. This individual was at least a day old as the metallic colours were developed with only the eyes and wings to develop
8 April 2017 This year has kicked off to a good start with the earliest Large Red Damselfly seen today at Monkwood for 11 years
|
28 Sep 2017 Now that Autumn is upon us the Common Darters are particularly active on sunny days. This very dark female shows that the wings and body colour can get quite dark with age. The other reason why you might find darker individuals is to go north where dragonflies need to be darker to absorb the lower sunlight levels
20 Sep2017 Most insects have three small simple eyes other than the big compound eyes. It is generally thought that they are to do with light reception and so may be involved with day length measurement but in dragonflies it is quite likely that they are used to ascertain flight attitude. The common Darter below has two small eyes near the base of the antennae looking sideways and one front facing larger lens rather like a train headlight which sits in the black band called the frons
27 Aug 2017 Reflecting on this year’s dragonfly season there was a special moment to remember when a Southern Hawker spent 20 minutes egg laying in moss around an ornamental pond where we were walking. The best thing was that my nephews lad was able to get really close and watch what was going on as the dragonfly was especially confiding. At the end of the day he proudly proclaimed that he had never been so close to a dragonfly before and that was better than a similar close encounter he had had with a sheep earlier.
01 Sept 2017 Welcomed back after a gap of 9 years the Ruddy Darter was seen by Jason at Hillditch Pool. Usually found at very well vegetated water bodies, this species is one of the few dragonflies that can withstand periods of drought in the late Summer. Fortunately Hillditch never goes dry
8 July 2017 I have mentioned unusual blue coloured Southern Hawkers before and one was seen again today at Monkwood.
Notice the thorax colouring is yellow not green and all the usually green spots on the abdomen are pale blue. What causes this is unsure, It could be just a transitional change but the male dragonfly appears to be fully mature already judging by the eyes. If it was a common occurrence why is it not seen more often? 
20 June 2017 At Croome today were the first Ruddy Darters. At first glance it could have been a Common Darter but the all black legs give it away
18 June 2017 What’s happening here? Common Damselflies readily buzz larger dragonflies that appear in their patch and usually a female emperor would take no notice. This male does an unusual thing with its abdomen though as a threat. Emperors will have a go at catching large prey and so the damselfly is taking a bit of a chance
7 June 2017 It’s often difficult to know when a species first starts to emerge as the new adults stay away from the waterbody for a while. As we have seen before, John from Malvern has a garden which is very attractive to newly emerged (teneral) dragonflies, and he has had the first Southern Hawker today
30 May 2017 A Scarce Chaser was seen again at Hillditch pool and is probably the same one seen 4 days ago, or are there two this year! A fabulous insect and shot from Gary Palmer
26 May 2017 A fleeting glance of a large dragonfly today at Hillditch Pool was all that Jason needed to identify the First Emperor at Hillditch pool. Too quick to get a photo so let’s revisit this shot taken last year
25 May 2017 After an early start for some species it seemed like a long wait for the first Black-tailed Skimmer. This larval case was seen near Caunsall, but with no sign of the adult
18 May 2017 Records for the Clubtail Dragonfly are very welcome this year during the National survey for this species. John Stroud saw 9 (including the one below), along the Severn below Blackstone Rock, Bewdley
10 May 2017 Croome Park may not be up to its usual high standards for dragonflies this year as the River was dredged in the early Spring. Some have managed to survive the ordeal at least, like some Blue-tailed Damselflies and the newly emerged Red-Eyed Damselfly below
10 May 2017 There were some Blue-tailed Damselflies seen today, at Lower Smite Farm and Croome Court
07 May 2017 Another first Today as Jason finds a Four-spotted Chaser at Hartlebury Bog
07 May 2017 Also emerging today at Caunsall were a few Common Blue Damselflies here is one of the freshly shed larval skins
19 April 2017 Also seen today at Wilden was the Banded Demoiselle which appeared to be almost fully coloured except for the eyes
This photo reminds us that the blue form of the Southern Hawker is unusual to find and so any photos are very welcome associated with any comments on the ambient temperature when seen
No more downy Emerald last year so will the Grafton Wood record be the first and only sighting. Always look out for the species at pools in woodland early in the year from late May to Mid June
|
The new Atlas of Dragonflies in Britain and Ireland is still available. This full colour book (approx. 300 pages from the British Dragonfly Society), maps the distribution of all 56 species of damselfly and dragonfly in Britain and Ireland. The prepublication offer has ended but the atlas is now available from the BDS shop website.
The atlas edited by Steve Cham, Brian Nelson, Steve Prentice, Dave Smallshire and Pam Taylor costs only £32 + Post & Packing
Don't forget you can see the fine detail for all the Worcestershire Records on the Maps for 2008-12 pages of this site
All Worcs recorders are credited in the new National Atlas
The atlas edited by Steve Cham, Brian Nelson, Steve Prentice, Dave Smallshire and Pam Taylor costs only £32 + Post & Packing
Don't forget you can see the fine detail for all the Worcestershire Records on the Maps for 2008-12 pages of this site
All Worcs recorders are credited in the new National Atlas
