The Arboretum Trust

Kew at Castle Howard

Education For All - Invertebrates

Dragonflies

Dragonfly Fauna of the Arboretum

The four water bodies within the arboretum are different in size, depth and flora and therefore have variations in the dragonfly fauna they hold.  In total 15 species were recorded in 2008 which is excellent for the north of England.  Four species recorded which have moved north probably benefiting from global warming and are more regularly seen now are Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa), Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator), Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) and Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta).

Arboretum Lake

In mid to late spring this lake produced masses of emerging damselflies amongst the stems of Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliate). Taking their maiden flight many of immature damselflies moved in to the warm sheltered areas of Japanese Acers on the north side of the lake to feed and mature.  A walk amongst these small trees would produce Large Red (Pyrrhosoma nymphula), Common Blue Enallagma cyathigerum), Azure (Coenagrion puella) and Blue-tailed Damselflies (Ischnura elegans).
The wind tends to funnel down the lake so in terms of larger dragonflies in a year like 2008 the numbers recorded were probably not as good as they should be, however Four-spot Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) was reasonably common in June and of the hawker dragonflies Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) was the most notable.
In to late summer the area of Acers once again held good numbers of insects although this time it was a profusion of Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum).

Atkinson’s Bog

Somewhat more sheltered than the arboretum lake and with a different flora this site was well worth watching, the protection from the wind making it easier to see hawker dragonflies including Emperor (A. imperator) in early summer, followed by Brown Hawker (A. grandis), Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) and in late summer Migrant Hawker (A. mixta).  The latter species in particular being attracted by the more fen like habitat of stands of phragmites.  The closeness of this lake to the Arboretum Lake means there will be some movement of insects between the two.

Dew Pond

This is an excellent site.  The shallow pond is sheltered and sunny and hence the number of species recorded here is the greatest at 14.  Some of the species recorded appear absent at the other sites within the arboretum and these include Broad-bodied Chaser (L. depressa) and Black Darter (Sympetrum danae).
On one visit numerous freshly emerged specimens of Ruddy Darter (S. sanguineum) were to be found, their wings not yet fully expanded and the larval case (exuvia) still clinging to the same rush stem.
Numerous species were seen egg laying here including Emperor (A. imperator), Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea), Broad-bodied Chaser (L. depressa) and Black Darter (S. danae).
The prominent damselflies here were Large Red (P. nymphula) and Emerald (Lestes sponsa).

Sata Pond

This site up to now has not achieved the expectation, which is reflected in the slightly lower number of species recorded, it was usually the last pond to be visited and a little more open to the inclement weather.
Ruddy Darter (S. sanguineum) is common here loving the little damp valley behind the open water in to which to egg lay.

Keith Gittens 03/02/2009