Download - NERC Open Research Archive - Natural Environment ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Status and distribution Libellula quadrimaculata Linnaeus Four-spotted chaser Description This libellulid is predominantly brown in both sexes, but with striking wing coloration when observed closely. It takes its name from the dark mark at the node of each wing. There is also a black patch at the base of the hindwings, crossed by yellow veins, and a deep saffron suffusion on the basal area of each wing which extends towards the node. The thorax is brownish and covered in dense pale hairs. The abdomen, which tapers posteriorly is brownish except for the posterior third, comprising segments 7-10 and part of 6, which is black dorsally Also, there are narrow yellow marldngs laterally on segments 4-8, sometimes also 9. A variety known as f. praenubila Newman occurs not uncommonly. It is characterised by a dark patch towards the end of each wing near the pterostigina. Habitat L. quadrimaculata breeds in a wide range of mainly still water habitats: from the dykes of coastal levels to bog pools and lochans in mountain areas. It is also found in ponds, lakes and canals. Breeding biology The males are very territorial. They make their sallies from sticks and tall emergent plants on which they perch, and also patrol the water's edge. Their highest steady density is about 15 males per 100 m of water margin but, when exceptional numbers are present in the vicinity of a pond, the territorial system breaks down for a period. Warren (1964) observed territorial behaviour in L. quadrimaculata at a bog pool that was occupied also by Leucorrhinia dubia. He noticed that the two species hunted over the same area but at different levels. Provided the L. dubia remained low, it would not be molested, but if it flew up to the level at which the L. quadrimaculata was perched, about 70 cm from the ground, it would be attacked, and the L. dubia individual would be chased away over the trees, only to return a few minutes later. Copulation takes place in flight, and lasts only 5-20 seconds. The female hovers, often where there is vegetation not far below the water surface, and drops her eggs into the water by flicking her abdomen downwards. The eggs sink and adhere to the vegetation. The male usually keeps guard nearby and wards off intruders. However, females also oviposit alone. The larvae live amongst the bottom debris, and probably take two years to develop. Emergence often occurs on marginal rushes such as soft rush. Flight periods L. quachlMaculata is on the wing from late May to early August, and can be seen with the many other species that favour static water sites. It is widespread throughout Britain and Ireland, including the Orkneys and the Outer Hebrides, but is absent from many apparently suitable sites in the Pennines and north-east England. European and world L. quadrimaculata is an holarctic species that occurs throughout most of distribution Europe, though local in the extreme north and south. Its range extends east to Japan, and to North America. On the continent, vast migrations are known to occur, which tend to have a cycle of ten years or so. Mass migrations rarely take place in Britain or Ireland, although they have been recorded from Essex and Kent in the past. Immigration in small numbers may occur more frequently however. 92
Libellula quadrimaculata Linnaeus 1975-90 o 1950-74 O Pre-1950 4, . 0000 000 c5 ctZ' 41IN o 0 0 00 101,,,, 40 000 00 a ip 000 : :.:47 6 41o4, _ .... : 00000 olio 00 0 410 000 iii , 00 0 0 0 00 0000 000000 000000 00 00 000 000 0 mo 93 00 0 Q 00 0 0 o 0: 0410::::* 4114, 00 4" 00 0 00 0 0 00 00 0 00 0.00 0 Four-spotted chaser 0 0 00 0 0 0000 0 0 0 0000 .0 00 0111 000 00 00 00 00 000 00 00 5 0 o 00 000 0 000 0 000000 0 000 0 0000 0000 00 00 0 0410 0 0 00 00 0 0 000 00 0 WI 0000 00 0 00 00 0 00 o 0 00 000 0 0 000 00 0 000 00 00 0 000 00 00 00 00 00 00 50 00 00 0 00000
Page 2 and 3:
Cover photograph: Aeshna juncea Ins
Page 4 and 5:
@ NERC Copyright 1996 ISBN 0 11 701
Page 7 and 8:
FOREWORD Having been on the fringe
Page 9 and 10:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The following list
Page 11 and 12:
Howard, G.; Howard, LW; Howe, M.; H
Page 13:
Walker, D.S.; Walker, FA; WaLker, I
Page 16 and 17:
CHECKLIST The following checklist i
Page 18 and 19:
Aeshna mixta Latreille 1805 Aeschna
Page 20 and 21:
THE BRITISH AND IRISH ODONATA IN A
Page 22 and 23:
of distributions of dragonflies usi
Page 24 and 25:
I 00 o o Figure 3. Map of coverage
Page 26 and 27:
,o " Figure 5. Map of coverage at t
Page 28 and 29:
FIELDWORK AND DATA MANAGEMENT METHO
Page 30 and 31:
areas, and encouraged in this by bo
Page 32 and 33:
Table 3. Distribution of each speci
Page 34 and 35:
Table 4 (con°. Vice-county distrib
Page 36 and 37:
Table 4 (cont). Vice-county distrib
Page 38 and 39:
Computerisation and validation Havi
Page 40 and 41:
dominance of one individual over an
Page 42 and 43:
RESIDENT SPECIES Description Habita
Page 44 and 45:
Calopteryx splendens (Harris) Bande
Page 46 and 47:
Description Flight periods Status a
Page 48:
Description Lestes dryas Kirby Scar
Page 51 and 52:
Platycnemis pennipes (Pallas) White
Page 53 and 54:
Pyrrhosoma nymphula (Sulzer) 1975-9
Page 55 and 56:
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 and 108: Cordulia aenea (Lin.naens) Downy em
Page 109 and 110: Somatochlora metallica (Vander Lind
Page 111 and 112: Somatochlora arctica (Zetterstedt)
Page 113: Oxygastra curtisii (Dale) Orange-sp
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
Page 159 and 160: Coenagrion rnercuriale (Charpentier
Page 161 and 162: Dee'. Transactions of the Natural H
Page 163 and 164: Circumboreal Occurring in a band en
Page 165 and 166:
Marl A whitish clay soil with a hig
Page 167 and 168:
Vulvar scale WATCH Weald Wheel posi
Page 169 and 170:
Appendix 2. LIST OF PLANT NAMES Pla
Page 171:
Libefiula depressa 5,6,14,17,18,19,
show all

Download - NERC Open Research Archive - Natural Environment ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?