Breeding Damselflies and Dragonflies on the Northmoor Trust Estate
Twenty one species have been seen at Little Wittenham Nature Reserve.
Most species of Dragonflies and Damselflies can fly large distances (up to several km) from their larval ponds in order to find food. Thus, to show that species are actually breeding on the reserve it is necessary to observe breeding behaviour. Proof of breeding is only provided by finding either the aquatic larvae or the empty larval skins (exuviae) left behind by the newly emerged adult. Secondary evidence of breeding, such as copulation or ovipositing, is less reliable, but none-the-less strong evidence.
The 17 species for which we have breeding evidence are listed below.
The 13 species we have larvae or exuviae records are indicated by *.
Damselflies
Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)*
Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)
Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa)
Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella)*
Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) *
Common blue Damselfly (Enallgma cyathigerum)*
Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas)*
White-legged Damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes)*
Dragonflies
Club-tailed Dragonfly (Gomphus vulgatissimus)*
Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator)*
Southern hawker (Aeshna cyanea) *
Brown hawker (Aeshna grandis) *
Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa)*
Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata)
Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum)
Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)*
Common Darter (S. striolatum) *
Other Dragonflies recorded, but with no evidence of breeding
Downy Emerald (Cordulia aenea) - a few seen in 1999, 2000, two seen June 2006.
Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea) - recorded once, possibly in error
Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) - regularly seen later in the year, possibly breeding
Black Darter (Sympetrum danae) - a vagrant recorded in 1983
