“The last man standing” – a possible new taxonomic entity for European Odonata
Article by Milen Marinov and Nurten Hacet of Trakya University, Turkey Dragonflies and Damselflies of Europe have been so thoroughly investigated that the young students in this insect group are left with hardly anything new to describe from the old continent. In the hunt for more taxonomic puzzles our team challenged one of the prettiest of … Continued
Global collapse of insect populations
The Guardian has covered on a new data study reporting that global insect total mass declines by a staggering 2.5% a year. The study also claims that 40% of insect species are declining, and a third are categorised as endangered. All ecosystems rely on insects, the most diverse and abundant group of animals on the … Continued
A big thank you to our Fundraising Officer
We are sad to announce that our Fundraising Officer Sarah Miller has left the BDS after two years in her role. During that time she did an amazing job of gaining numerous grants for the BDS allowing us to expand our operations, including hiring a Conservation Outreach Officer and starting new projects like the England … Continued
Willow Emerald Watch Update
Thanks to the efforts of our volunteer dragonfly recorders, we have been able to closely following the spread and colonisation of the Willow Emerald Damselfly since those first mass sightings in 2009. The 2018 dragonfly season saw many important new records of the Willow Emerald Damselfly, and there was a clear consolidation of populations near the … Continued
BDS Spring Meeting
Join the BDS for a full day of dragonfly talks at Knutsford Methodist Church in Knutsford, Cheshire, on 30th March 2019! Guest speakers include. . . The Butterfly Brothers, Hazelwood Landscapes With their multiple Birdfair awards (including Commercial First 2019) this family team are experts in making gardens havens for wildlife. Watch them talking with dragonfly guru Ruary Mackenzie Dodds, and subscribe … Continued
The Impact of Heatwaves
New research from the University of East Anglia provides insight into how climate change is impacting insect populations. The research team exposed Red Flour Beetles (Tribolium castaneum) to simulated heatwave conditions, in a lab, to explore the impact on male reproduction. While female fertility was unaffected, heatwaves halved the amount of offspring males could produce, and a second … Continued
Water Soldier
The floating Water Soldier plant, with its characteristic spiky leaves and white flowers, naturally grows in the fens and broads of Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. However, its popularity as a garden pond plant has resulted in its introduction and spread outside of its original native range. In this short document we discuss the ecological benefits of Water Soldier, as … Continued
New volunteer opportunities in Shropshire
The Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre has launched a campaign to recruit a willing band of volunteers to their brand-new volunteering opportunity, the Onny Meadows Group. The meadows are an incredibly important habitat for wildlife and have just been designated England’s first dragonfly hotspot by the British Dragonfly Society. They contain a wide variety of habitats … Continued
Saying goodbye to BDS Conservation Officer
Join us in wishing our Conservation Officer Genevieve Dalley a fond farewell at the BDS Annual Meeting and AGM in Newcastle in November. Find out more, and book your tickets here. Genevieve joined the BDS 3 years ago and since that time she has been a continuous source of positive energy and new ideas, pushing the BDS in new directions, with exciting projects, … Continued