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SPECIES RECORDED IN THE
CHANNEL ISLANDS BUT NOT IN
BRITAIN OR IRELAND
Lestes barbarus (Fabricius)
L. barbarus is similar in appearance to L. sponsa and
L. dryas, but is larger and can be readily
distinguished by the bi-coloured pterostigmata of
mature individuals. These are dark brown except
for the apical one-third which is white. L. barbarus
breeds in ponds and ditches, including those that
are slightly brackish. Eggs are laid in the tissues of
emergent vegetation such as rushes and sedges, or
into the overhanging branches of shrubs such as
sallow. It is on the wing from the beginning of July to
early October. It has been recorded from Jersey
and Alderney. Whether it ever bred on Jersey is
uncertain, but it almost certainly bred on Alderney
in view of the considerable numbers seen at a pond
there in 1900 (Walker 1900). It could not be found
on Alderney during a survey in 1978 (Belle 1980),
neither has it been seen on Jersey for many years
(Silsby & Silsby 1988). Its European distribution is
centred on the Mediterranean region, becoming
scarcer in northern France, The Netherlands,
Belgium and northern Germany. It is found east to
Asia Minor, India and Mongolia.
Sympecma fusca (Vander Linden)
This brownish damselfly is closely related to the
Lestes genus, but lacks the metallic green coloration
and does not hold its wings half-open when at rest.
It is predominantly fawn-coloured with a dark brown
or black longitudinal marking on the dorsal surface
of each abdominal segment reminiscent of female
Enallagma cyathigerum. The dorsal surface of the
thorax is dark black-brown, and faintly metallic,
except for pale antehumeral stripes. The anal
appendages of males immediately identify them as
belonging to the Lestidae.
It breeds in oligotrophic ponds and small lakes, and
has an unusual life history. Eggs are laid in early
spring into dead floating vegetation such as
common reed, and hatch after three to six weeks.
Larval development is completed in two months.
Adults emerge in late July and August, and by late
September they have all left the breeding site and
dispersed to sheltered areas such as the edges of
woods, often some distance away Here they
hibernate amongst tall grasses, their body
coloration being good camouflage.
S. fusca is one of only two European dragonflies to
overwinter as an adult, the other being Sympecma
annulata (Sélys-Longchamps). In spring they return
to the water to recommence the breeding cycle. It
has been recorded from Jersey (Le Quesne 1946),
and is believed to have bred, but is probably now
110
extinct (Silsby & Silsby 1988). S. fusca is
widespread throughout southern and central
Europe, thinning out northwards. Its range extends
east to the Middle East and central Asia. It occurs in
North Africa.
Crocothemis erythraea (Brullé)
Males of this libellulid are umnistakable with their
broad, flattened and brilliantly red abdomen. The
thorax is reddish brown, and the eyes are red above
and purple below. In females the abdomen is
yellowish brown with yellow lateral markings on
segments 4-8. In both sexes there is a small amberyellow
suffusion at the base of the wings; more
extensive on the hind wings.
It breeds in shallow eutrophic ponds, paddy fields
and drainage ditches. In the Mediterranean region
it has two generations between April and November,
but further north it has one and is on the wing from
June to early September. It has been recorded from
Jersey (Le Quesne 1946), and is believed to have
bred, but has not been seen for many years (Silsby
& Silsby 1988). C. erythraea is common in the
Mediterranean region, but very local further north
in central Europe. It is found east to the Middle East
and Pakistan, and is widespread in tropical and
North Africa. [See also footnote on p5.]
Sympetrum meridionale (Sélys-Longchamps)
In male S. meridionale the abdomen is
predominantly reddish. In females it is yellowish
brown. It differs from the Sympetrum species that
have been recorded in Britain by the almost total
lack of black markings on the sides of the thorax.
An examination of the genitalia is necessary to
confirm its identity.
It breeds in shallow well-vegetated ponds and lakes.
In its more usual southern haunts, its flight period is
from late May to October.
Its position on the British list rested on four records:
two from the 19th century and two from the early
20th century These records were reappraised by F
C Fraser (1957, 1958) who concluded that the
identifications were suspect or that there were
doubts about whether the specimens had been
taken originally in Britain. In the case of the 1901
record from Dawlish, Devon, this specimen was
recently re-identified as S. striolatum by S J Brooks
(pers. comm.) at the Natural History Museum,
London, where it is in the AB Gardner collection. A
single female S. meridionale was recorded from
Jersey on 5 August 1948 (Moore 1949) and sent to
Cynthia Longfield at the Natural History Museum,
London, who confirmed the identity. Its European
distribution is centred on the Mediterranean region.
It is found east to Kashmir and Mongolia, and occurs
in North Africa.