CVL dragonfly list

Twenty two species of dragonfly and damselfly have been recordred at Chew, which isn't bad, considering that the lake doesn't support any real specialities, and even one or two species which might be expected to occur (both residents and migrants) are missing from the list.

It seems that the next addition could just as likely be a continental species as one which has wandered a few miles from the Mendips or Somerset levels. Other species which breed within a short distance include Common Hawker, Black Darter, Downy Emerald, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Keeled Skimmer and Hairy Dragonfly. In addition, Small Red-eyed Damslefly should now be expected to occur; the latter is probably favourite to be the next to go on the list.

In the third column, B indicates that the species breeds every year, and b indicates irregular or possible breeding.


Calopteryx virgoBeautiful DemoiselleOdd individuals here and there - breeds in the River Chew south of Herriott's Pool
Calopteryx splendensBanded DemoisellebA few records around the lake - breeds on the Chew north of the main dam
Lestes sponsaEmerald DamselflyBFairly common
Platycnemis pennipesWhite-legged DamselflyBreeds on the River Chew near Chew Magna, but no recent records at the lake
Phyrrosoma nymphulaLarge Red DamselflyBSurprisingly scarce - seems to be quite localised and difficult to find
Erythromma najasRed-eyed DamselflybFormerly found at Hollow Brook, but a gap of many years before an influx in 2010
Coenagrion puellaAzure DamselflyBCommon all around the lake
Enallagma cyathigerumCommon Blue DamselflyBCommon
Ischnura elegansBlue-tailed DamselflyBCommon
Aeshna mixtaMigrant HawkerBCommon in August and September
Aeshna cyaneaSouthern HawkerBFairly common, though less numerous than mixta
Aeshna grandisBrown HawkerRare - very few records
Anax imperatorEmperorBCommon - favours sheltered bays and pools
Anax parthenopeLesser EmperorbFirst recorded in July 2006 - at least three at Stratford, including a pair ovipositing
Libellula quadrimaculataFour-spotted ChaserBSmall number in a few pools around the lake, but was rare before 2000
Libellula fulvaScarce ChaserTwo records (Grebe Trail and River Chew by the Pumping Station)
Libellula depressaBroad-bodied ChaserBFairly common on suitable pools around the lake
Orthetrum cancellatumBlack-tailed SkimmerBCommon
Sympetrum striolatumCommon DarterBCommon
Sympetrum fonscolombeiRed-veined DarterOne at Nunnery Point in June 2009
Sympetrum flaveolumYellow-winged DarterOne in August 1994, then seven together in the 1995 influx
Sympetrum sanguineumRuddy DarterBCommon - thousands on the wing during peak emergence, but smaller numbers in some years

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