Lesser Emperor in Suffolk

A Lesser Emperor dragonfly was present at Lound waterworks between July 13th and 19th 2003 and was the first record for north Suffolk . The species is a rare migrant in Britain but is increasingly seen. It has apparently started to breed in Cornwall , so more records can be expected in the county. Despite the long stay of this individual it was not easy to see as it was frequently chased away from its favoured area by the highly territorial Emperor dragonfly.

The Lesser Emperor is a distinctive species being mostly olive/brown, and a fifth smaller than the Emperor, and lacking that species’ drooping abdomen. The most obvious feature is a large sky blue on segment two and half of three, at the base of the abdomen.

Possible breeding of Red-veined Darter

The Red-veined Darter is an irregular migrant to Britain . According to   Suffolk Dragonflies (Mendel, 1992) there is only one, very old, confirmed record for the county.

However, in June 2002, a good invasion occurred in Suffolk with individual males noted holding territory at various localities including Easton Broad, Benacre Broad and Minsmere. Oviposition occurred at this time, although I do not know of any emergence at these sites.

On June 30th 2002 a group of Red-veined Darters took up residence at the Corton treatment works’ new pool.   This pool had been constructed only during the previous four months and its sandy banks were to the darters’ liking. During their month-long stay four males and one female were frequently at the pool in hot weather, although in dull or cool conditions they often disappeared into the surrounding vegetation. A single female was seen on the odd occasion, and only ever visited the pool in tandem with one of the males. Oviposition was observed on a number of dates; the murky colour of the water gave us little hope that anything would ever emerge.

In 2003 we made regular visits to the site and had virtually given up hope of seeing any emergence when, on August 3rd, five males suddenly appeared at the pool. The well-vegetated margins of the pool seemed unlikely to attract any migrants, suggesting that these males could be of local origin. Also few migrant Red-veined Darters were recorded in East Anglia during the hot summer of 2003, adding weight to the case for local emergence. We created some bare clearings at the Corton site and the darters favoured these during their three-week stay. Unfortunately no females were seen in 2003, so the establishment of a lasting colony looks unlikely.

© 2004   Suffolk Naturalists' Society