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Dragonflies of the Forth Area 57
at a bog in Loch Ard Forest near Aberfoyle (Knowler and Mitchell 1994). It was
proved to be breeding in 1998 when one was found emerging (Professor J.
Knowler, pers. comm.) This was a considerable extension south of the known
range of S. arctica in Scotland although breeding has subsequently been proved
much further to the south in Kintyre. Drainage for afforestation and
agriculture has probably damaged much habitat leading to fragmentation of
suitable breeding areas.
Libellula quadrimaculata: The Four-spot Chaser. Although Duncan (1840)
wrote that this species occurred at Duddingston Loch and the Pentland Hills,
both in the Edinburgh area, Evans reported that it was seldom seen in that area
in his time. His only relevant record was on 8 June 1895 when three were seen
at a curling-pond near Drumshoreland, Linlithgow. In Upper Forth he stated
that it was still locally common. The distribution has hardly changed over the
last 100 years. In recent years the first Lothians breeding record was in 1998
when Greg Fitchett recorded egg-laying at Craigton Quarry, near Winchburgh,
West Lothian (pers. comm.) An area of disused quarry had recently been
scraped then abandoned. It subsequently flooded and started to vegetate
producing the typical niche favoured by L. quadrimaculata. Unfortunately it is
now rapidly becoming overgrown by False Bulrush which will make it
unsuitable for this species. This does suggest that only the lack of suitable
shallow waters and appropriate short vegetation prevents this species from
returning.
Sympetrum striolatum: The Common Darter. Evans was familiar with
Sympetrum nigrescens, the Highland Darter, in the west of Scotland. He
collected a red dragonfly from the Callander area in the early 1870s but none
were seen by him since then in that locality. The Highland Darter, confined to
north-west Scotland, is very similar to, and is now considered as possibly a race
of, the Common Darter which is widespread in England. Intermediate forms
occur. Whether Evans’ Callander specimen most resembled S. nigrescens or
S. striolatum is unknown. Of even greater interest was Evans’ discovery of
S. striolatum, on 27 July 1901 beside a dry ditch at Luffness, East Lothian. About
a fortnight earlier his wife had spotted a red dragonfly of similar size and
appearance on the top of a tramcar in Morningside, Edinburgh. S. striolatum is
well-known to be a migratory species. In the early 1970s Tommy Boyd
discovered S. striolatum breeding at the Marl Loch, Aberlady, the first breeding
record for this species in south-east Scotland. More recently it was found in Fife
and in the last few years, at accelerating speed, this species has spread to many
coastal localities eastwards as far as Coldingham Loch, north over much of Fife
and at inland ponds throughout Mid and West Lothian and up into the
Trossachs.
Sympetrum danae: The Black Darter (formerly Sympetrum scoticum) is our
smallest dragonfly – average length 32 mm. It flies in late summer and autumn.
The mature male is unmistakeable being black with an Indian-club shaped
abdomen and black legs. However females and immature males are yellow
with black markings and look similar to female and immature males of