Two new dragonfly species on the Canary Islands

John Muddeman
11/03/2009 12:35:31

Two new species for the islands recorded on the same date at the same site!

Posted in: Dragonflies and Damselflies | Canary Islands | Spanish Islands

Travelling naturalists can often make very interesting records, but getting these known widely is often a problem. E.g. news of two new dragonfly species for the Canary Islands is just emerging, despite them being seen in July 2003!

The Limosa Wildlife Holidays group on tour in the islands noted lots of dragonflies in the Barranco de la Torre, Fuerteventura (a favoured site for a number of birds including Canary Islands Stonechat), largely sheltering from the wind behind tamarisks, and despite no water being present. They are presumed to have arrived from Africa as migrants.

The photographs prove they included both Long Skimmers Orthetrum trinacria and Violet Dropwings Trithemis annulata, taking the list for the Canaries up to 12 species.

Ironically, it was a websearch by dragonfly expert Florian Weihrauch, looking for records for the "Atlas of the Odonata of the Mediterranean and North Africa" - Libellula Supplement 9 of the Society of German-speaking Odonatologists (GdO) - which brought these to light. For those interested, the Atlas is to be officially released on 20th March by GdO for 25 Euros + postage.

Many thanks to Mike Crewe for the information on the records and Florian Weihrauch regarding the Atlas.

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