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Somatochlora metallica (Vander Linden) Brilliant emerald Description S. metallica is slightly larger than the other two resident corduliid species, and has a greener appearance. It is readily distinguished from S. arctica and Cordulia aenea, which it resembles, by the distinctive pattern of yellow facial markings and the shape of the anal appendages. Also, in females, there is a very prominent spike-like vulvar scale which projects almost perpendicularly to the body on the ventral abdominal surface between segments 8 and 9, and is almost as long as those two segments. The eyes are green. The thorax is bright bronze-green and not so heavily downy as C. aenea. The abdomen, which is slightly club-shaped in males, is dark metallic green with a bronze sheen. There are pale yellow markings on abdominal segments 2 and 3, both laterally and ventrally and, in females, two small spots on segment 3 dorsally. There is a small amber area at the base of the wings which, in mature females, are entirely suffused with a pale amber tint. Habitat In south-east England, S. metallica breeds on mesotrophic, neutral to mildly acidic, ponds, lakes and canals, often where there are sheltered bays overhung with trees and bushes. It also occurs on small slow-flowing rivers. In the Scottish Highlands, S. metallica often breeds in similar habitat to C. aenea, namely: ancient peaty lochs which usually contain white water-lily, bogbean and marginal Sphagnum. Breeding biology On finding a female, copulation takes place away from water in trees or amongst low bushes and scrub. The female oviposits while hovering very low down, repeatedly tapping her abdomen, two to three times per second, into either wet Sphagnum moss or peat (both under and away from the water), or directly into shallow water amongst tree roots or common reed. Oviposition in S. metallica is discussed by Smith (1984) and Fox (1991). The larvae live amongst peaty detritus and leaf litter, and probably take two or more years to develop. Flight periods S. metallica is on the wing from mid-June (occasionally earlier) to mid-August. Status and distribution European and world distribution In Scotland it can be seen with C. aenea, Aeshna juncea, quadrimaculata and the commoner northern damselflies. In south-east England the list includes most of the species to be found on mesotrophic ponds and lakes. On slow-flowing rivers, it can be seen with Calopteryx splendens and Platycnemis penmpes. In Britain, S. metallica is divided into two distinct populations. One, in the Highlands, is centred on Glen Affric and Glen Mor. The other, in England, is much larger and includes the Weald of SusseX and west Kent, and the heaths of Surrey, north Hampshire and Berkshire. The first fully documented record of S. metallica in Britain was from Strathglass in 1869 by Dr Buchanan White (McLachlan 1870). At the turn of the century it was still thought to be solely a Scottish species by many leading entomologists (Lucas 1900), despite the fact that Stephens (1835-37) had recorded it as 'rare in England: it has been found in the metropolitan district in June'. It was first (re)discovered in England on 4 August 1908 at The Warren, near Crowborough in Sussex, by E R Speyer (Speyer 1909). Considering that many of the entomologists of that period were based in south-east England, perhaps S. metallica was indeed absent, but one wonders whether, for example, the C. aenea recorded by C A Briggs on 13 September 1891 at Bookham, Surrey, was in fact S. metallica, in view of the exceptional late date. In 1922, S. metallica was found at Loch a' Chrion Diore in Argyllshire by K J Morton (specimen in the Royal Scottish Museum), and was refound there by E M and R W J Smith on 27 June 1995. S. metallica occurs in central and northern Europe and east to the Volga and Asia Minor. In the south of its range it is restricted to higher altitudes, such as the Pyrenees and the Alps. 86
Somatochlora metallica (Vander Linden) Brilliant emerald 1975-90 o 1950-74 O Pre-1950 6 =tt 87 - Q 00 00 0000 000000
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Cover photograph: Aeshna juncea Ins
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@ NERC Copyright 1996 ISBN 0 11 701
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FOREWORD Having been on the fringe
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The following list
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Howard, G.; Howard, LW; Howe, M.; H
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Walker, D.S.; Walker, FA; WaLker, I
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CHECKLIST The following checklist i
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Aeshna mixta Latreille 1805 Aeschna
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THE BRITISH AND IRISH ODONATA IN A
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of distributions of dragonflies usi
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I 00 o o Figure 3. Map of coverage
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,o " Figure 5. Map of coverage at t
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FIELDWORK AND DATA MANAGEMENT METHO
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areas, and encouraged in this by bo
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Table 3. Distribution of each speci
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Table 4 (con°. Vice-county distrib
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Table 4 (cont). Vice-county distrib
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Computerisation and validation Havi
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dominance of one individual over an
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RESIDENT SPECIES Description Habita
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Calopteryx splendens (Harris) Bande
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Description Flight periods Status a
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Description Lestes dryas Kirby Scar
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Platycnemis pennipes (Pallas) White
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Pyrrhosoma nymphula (Sulzer) 1975-9
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Erythromma najas (Hansemann) 1975-9
Page 57 and 58: Coenagrion mercuriale (Charpentier)
Page 59 and 60: Coenagrion scituluni (Rambur) Daint
Page 61 and 62: Coenagrion hastulatuni (Charpentier
Page 63 and 64: Coenagrion lunulatum (Charpentier)
Page 65 and 66: Coenagrion armatum (Charpentier) No
Page 67 and 68: Coenagrion puella (Linnaeus) Azuxe
Page 69 and 70: Coenagrion pulchellum (Vander Linde
Page 71 and 72: Enallagma cyathigerurn (Charpentier
Page 73 and 74: Ischnura pumilio (Charpentier) Scar
Page 75 and 76: Ischnura elegans (Vander Linden) 19
Page 77 and 78: Ceriagrion tenellurn (Villers) 1975
Page 79 and 80: Aeshna caerulea (Strom) Azure hawke
Page 81 and 82: Aeshna juncea (Linnaeus) Common haw
Page 83 and 84: Montiaghs Moss, near Aghalee, Co An
Page 85 and 86: Sundon Springs chalk quarry, near L
Page 87 and 88: PLATE 1 Calopteryxvirgo adult PLATE
Page 89 and 90: PLATE 13 Libellula fulva adult PLAT
Page 91 and 92: Aeshna mixta Latreile Migrant hawke
Page 93 and 94: Aeshna cyanea (Muller) Southern haw
Page 95 and 96: Aeshna grandis (Linnaeus) Brown haw
Page 97 and 98: Aeshna isosceles (Muller) Norfolk h
Page 99 and 100: Anax imperator Leach Emperor dragon
Page 101 and 102: Brachytron pratense (Muller) Hairy
Page 103 and 104: Gomphus vulgatissimus (Linnaeus) 19
Page 105 and 106: Cordulegaster boltonii (Donovan) Go
Page 107: Cordulia aenea (Lin.naens) Downy em
Page 111 and 112: Somatochlora arctica (Zetterstedt)
Page 113 and 114: Oxygastra curtisii (Dale) Orange-sp
Page 115 and 116: Libellula quadrimaculata Linnaeus 1
Page 117 and 118: Libellula fulva Mailer Scarce chase
Page 119 and 120: Libellula depressa Linnaeus 1975-90
Page 121 and 122: Orthetrum cancellatum (Linnaeus) 19
Page 123 and 124: Orthetrum coerulescens (Fabricius)
Page 125 and 126: Sympetrum striolaturn (Charpentier)
Page 127 and 128: Sympetrum sanguineum (Muller) Ruddy
Page 129 and 130: Sympetruni danae (Sulzer) 1975-90 o
Page 131 and 132: Leuconhinia dubia (Vander Linden) W
Page 133 and 134: IMIVLIGRANTS AND ACCIDENTAL SPECIES
Page 135 and 136: POSSIBLE ADDITIONS TO THE BRITISH A
Page 137 and 138: SEASONAL OCCURRENCE PREVIOUS REPRES
Page 139 and 140: 700 600 500 400 300. 200 100 0 90 8
Page 141 and 142: 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 90 80 70 60 50
Page 143 and 144: Finally, differences in recorder be
Page 145 and 146: ODONATA LOCALITY 6411 V10E-COUNTY N
Page 147 and 148: Particularly in the case of residen
Page 149 and 150: conditions and which may be of grea
Page 151 and 152: 1960s from its single locality alon
Page 153 and 154: pond. One of the authors did this o
Page 155 and 156: REFERENCES Aguilar, J. d', Dommange
Page 157 and 158: Gabb, R. & Kitching, D. 1992. The d
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Coenagrion rnercuriale (Charpentier
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Dee'. Transactions of the Natural H
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Circumboreal Occurring in a band en
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Marl A whitish clay soil with a hig
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Vulvar scale WATCH Weald Wheel posi
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Appendix 2. LIST OF PLANT NAMES Pla
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Libefiula depressa 5,6,14,17,18,19,
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