This is the last newsletter of the year, and it features just one species, Willow Emerald (Chalcolestes viridis), which made its predicted Welsh debut this August, and has already become well-established on the eastern Gwent Levels, as shown on the map of all the records received so far from that area that I’ve included below. Before all the Willow Emerald content, there’s one other item to cover:

The deadline for 2025 records: 9 January 2026

If you’ve already sent in your 2025 records, fast forward to the Willow Emeralds. If you haven’t, and you would like those records to appear in the next update to the county distribution maps, and to be included in the British Dragonfly Society’s upload to the National Biodiversity Network website in the New Year, then I will need to receive them by Friday 9 January.

Willow Emerald, new to Wales

After reaching Somerset and Gloucestershire in recent years, it was only a matter of time before it reached us here in Wales, and the first individuals to be found and reported came during a recording visit I made to the Gwent Levels in mid-August. Paul Grennard found the species at a second location, near Goldcliff, very shortly afterwards. Lee and Cathy Gregory visited this site a few days later and discovered not just proof of breeding in this season, but evidence that the Willow Emerald had been here undetected for at least one season previously. Perhaps just as big a surprise was that one turned up this year in Alan Underwood’s garden, at the other end of the county on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog national park. Finally, one reached Cardiff in September, adding the species to the Glamorgan list too.

All photographs below are from August 2025.

A Willow Emerald near Magor, photographed by Gavin Vella	A Willow Emerald near Goldcliff, photographed by Paul Grennard
Willow Emeralds near Goldcliff, photographed by Lee Gregory	A Willow Emerald in Govilon, photographed by Alan Underwood

Here’s a map of the Willow Emerald sites found this year on the Gwent Levels:

Finding Willow Emerald breeding evidence

Because of the distinctive oviposition scars, it’s possible to find breeding evidence for Willow Emerald outside of the flight season; in fact, it’s even easier to search for this in the winter once leaves have fallen from trees. One of Lee Gregory’s images from Goldcliff in August is included below. Oviposition can take place on a number of different tree species over water, not just willows. If you feel like escaping from Christmas guests over-staying their welcome, “I’m going out to look for Willow Emerald oviposition scars” is just the excuse you need: please take a photo, and attach it with your record to make my verification task easier. You can find lots more information about how to find the scars on the British Dragonfly Society website here.

Willow Emerald oviposition scars at Goldcliff, photographed by Lee Gregory

Contributing your records

I’m happy to receive your records via any method which suits you: it’s better to receive a record than not to receive it. The iRecord system is my preferred method. If you’d like to use iRecord, please go to irecord.org.uk and create an account. I’m more than happy to show you how to use it over a video conference, or in person if you live somewhere within easy reach.

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