|
Christchurch
Harbour Odonata List
Introduction
Dragonflies and
damselflies, the order odonata, are an obvious and vibrant addition
to the summer fauna in Christchurch Harbour, and CHOG has sought to
record these over the years as part of their role. The first annual
dragonfly records date back to 1969, and a debt of gratitude is owed
to the late Cecil Pepin and more recently Paul Morrison in collating
and summarising this information in various CHOG reports.
Since the 1990s,
however, the formal recording of odonata in CHOGs annual reports
has been somewhat more sporadic, and this is probably reflected in the
under-recording of many species.
It seemed timely,
therefore, to produce a summary list of the status of the twenty-six
species currently recorded in the harbour, with brief notes on their
status. Hopefully, this may act as a catalyst to encourage more regular
inclusion of dragonfly and damselfly records.
Chris
Chapleo
CHOG Odonata
List
Banded Demoiselle
Calopteryx splendens
Mentioned as being annual since mid 1980s by PM (1987) and currently
occasionally recorded along the Purewell Stream and River Avon at Stanpit.
Emerald Damselfly
Lestes sponsa
Regular but never common. PM (1987) mentions a small resident population
and has been recorded in very small numbers in recent years on Hengistbury
ponds.
Large Red Damselfly
Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Recorded annually and fairly common.
Small Red Damselfly
Ceriagrion tenellum
Quite common in small numbers - recorded annually.
Azure Damselfly
Coenagrion lunulatum
Common, with a large resident population emerging in June.
Common Blue Damselfly
Enallagma cyathigerum
Very common from July to September around ponds.
Scarce Blue-tailed
Damselfly Ischnura pumilio
Described by PM (1987) as an "extremely rare vagrant". Recorded
in 1982 and 1983, but not since, although this may well be due to lack
of recording coverage.
Blue-tailed Damselfly
Ischnura elegans
Common from July to September.
Red-eyed Damselfly
Erythromma najas
Occasionally recorded in the Nursery ponds in 2005-2007, but not certainly
established. The most recent addition to the harbour Odonata list.
Hairy Dragonfly
Brachytron pratense
Scarce. PM cites records in 1969, 1971, 1982-84 and 1986. Not recorded
again until one in June 2009, although, in common with many species,
probably under recorded.
Common Hawker
Aeshna juncea
Reasonably regular, but less common than previous species. In common
with Aeshna cyanea, small resident population (PM 1987).
Migrant Hawker
Aeshna mixta
PM (1987) describes this species as a "rare vagrant", but
it has undoubtedly become more regular since then. Particularly recorded
in autumn in variable numbers.
Southern Hawker
Aeshna cyanea
Regular small numbers from July to September. Small resident population
according to PM (1987).
Brown Hawker
Aeshna grandis
Described by PM (1987) as an "extremely rare vagrant". In
recent years it has become somewhat more regular but still scarce, and
is seen in most years, e.g. two sightings in late July 2007.
Emperor Anax
imperator
Regular but small numbers from a resident population. Anecdotal evidence
suggests that the species has become slightly more common in recent
years.
Golden-ringed
Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii
PM (1987) cites only one record of this species, in 1974. This remains
as the sole harbour record.
Downy Emerald
Cordulia aenea
Very rare. Only two records with the last in 1992 (PM).
Four-spotted
Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata
Present in small numbers on the few warm days in late June and July.
Scarce Chaser
Libellula fulva
PM (1992) mentions a small colony at a stream on Stanpit, although this
species has not been recorded since, until one in 2009.
Broad-bodied
Chaser Libellula depressa
Regular in small numbers. PM (1987) mentions a small resident population,
which may still be the case.
Black-tailed
Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
Described by PM (1987) as "very scarce", but likely to colonise.
This was proved right, as the species now seems to be quite common in
June and July, particularly around the Ironstone Quarry.
Keeled Skimmer
Orthetrum coerulescen
Three records are cited by PM (1987), but it has seemingly not been
recorded since 1979.
Common Darter
Sympetrum striolatum
Large resident population. A common dragonfly from early August until
October around the Nursery pools and the Lily Pond.
Ruddy Darter
Sympetrum sanguineum
PM (1987) mentions irregular records from several years between 1979
and 1987, but it is seemingly not annual and the only recent record
was in 2008.
Black Darter
Sympetrum danae
Mentioned as recorded in 1970s-1980s (PM 1987) and apparently bred,
most recently in 1972, but occurrences are sporadic and not annual.
Again possibly under recorded.
Red-veined Darter
Sympetrum fonscolombei
One record, a single on 10 September 1987 (PM), of this migrant from
continental Europe.
References
P.
Morrison (1992) "Invertebrate Summary 1992", The Birds
of Christchurch Harbour 1992, CHOG.
P. Morrison (1987) "Dragonflies of Christchurch Harbour",
The Birds of Christchurch Harbour 1987, CHOG.
C.E. Pepin (1982) "An insect summer at Hengistbury",
The Birds of Christchurch Harbour 1982, CHOG.
C.E.Pepin (1971) "Dragonflies at Hengistbury Head",
The Birds of Christchurch Harbour 1971, CHOG.
|
