The Monmouthshire dragonfly list

The table below lists the 33 species of dragonfly which have been reliably recorded in Monmouthshire.  Some of these are rare visitors to the county: records of these are of particular interest, and can be added to our county database if supporting evidence is provided, such as a photograph or some notes describing what was seen and how more common lookalike species were ruled out. Some of our resident species are usually only found in certain areas of the county and so supporting evidence is asked for if these are seen outside their usual areas.

One further species, Banded Darter Sympetrum pedemontanum, was found in 1995 near Tredegar, and listed in several publications as being seen within Monmouthshire. Research for an account of this occurrence led to the realisation that it spent its time wholly within Breconshire, so unfortunately this distinctive insect (the first, and as of 2022, the only, British record) is no longer on the county list. Single unconfirmed records each of two other species (Downy Emerald Cordulia aenea and Scarce Chaser Libellula fulva) were reviewed in 2020/2021 and no supporting evidence could be traced for either, so these have been excluded from the list. Subsequently (2023) further details of the putative Scarce Chaser (on the Blorenge in 1983) have come to light: photographs of it were examined shortly after it was reported, and it was a misidentified Broad-bodied Chaser.

For a version of this list in PDF format, annotated with status summaries, click here.

English name

 

Scientific name

 

Supporting evidence requested for

 

Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa
Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens
Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo
White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes records away from the Usk, Wye and Monnow
Small Red Damselfly Ceriagrion tenellum all records
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
Variable Damselfly Coenagrion pulchellum all records
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum
Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma najas new sites
Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans
Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura pumilio records away from western upland areas
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula
Southern Migrant Hawker Aeshna affinis all records
Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis records away from the northwest of the county
Common Hawker Aeshna juncea records away from western upland areas
Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta
Vagrant Emperor Anax ephippiger all records
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator
Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope all records
Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense records away from the Gwent Levels
Common Clubtail Gomphus vulgatissimus records away from the River Wye
Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii records in unusual locations (e.g. the Gwent Levels)
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum
Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens records away from western upland areas
Black Darter Sympetrum danae records away from western upland areas
Yellow-winged Darter Sympetrum flaveolum all records
Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii all records
Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum new sites away from the Gwent Levels
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum

 

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