Potteric Carr Nature Reserve
Dragonflies & Damselflies



Twenty species have been recorded at Potteric Carr, of which 18 are known to have bred.



There have recently been a number of sightings of Red-viened Darter which have bred from those which bred at Potteric Carr in 2006 following an influx into Britain from the Continent. The photograph above shows a female at a Loversall Field pond on 20th August 2006 (© Adrian Andruchiw).


KEY TO IDENTIFYING POTTERIC CARR DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES
Click Here (105 kb PDF)


SPECIES CHECKLIST
                                                                                                                
The far right hand column indicates abundance (estimated peak number on any one day) using the standard
Biological Records Centre nomenclature, i.e. A = 1; B = 2–5; C = 6–20; D = 21–100; E = 100–500; F = 500+.

Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens C
Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa E
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula D
Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella F
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum E
Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans F
Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense A
Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea C
Common Hawker Aeshna juncea B
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis C
Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta D/E
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator C
[ Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope ] **
Golden-Ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii *
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum C
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa C
Four Spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata D
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum F
Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum D
Black Darter Sympetrum danae B
Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii B

* This dragonfly was recorded in 1990 and can be regarded as a rare immigrant from
the nearest breeding areas which are probably on the Pennines.
** There was a possible sighting of this species in July 2006 during a period when a large
number had been recorded in Northern England.