The Northern Damselfly is found only in Scotland in the UK, with its strongholds in Speyside, Deeside and Perthshire. Listed as Endangered in the British Odonata Red List, it is found in only around 100 sites which vary from small sedge-fringed pools in mires to old curling ponds and small lochs. It is a very hardy damselfly, with the larvae being far more active in cold weather than other Odonata. The blue and black male has an ‘ace of spades’ at the top of the abdomen, while the female is pea green and black. Their larvae live underwater for two years and the adults are on the wing in June and July.
We have recently been working with the Cairngorms National Park to improve habitat connectivity for this rare damselfly by creating new ponds and managing existing ones.
Image: © Damian Pinguey/BDS Scotland
Action Needed
- Surveys to identify the condition of known sites and new Northern Damselfly locations.
- Management of degraded sites and construction of new ponds to provide better habitat connectivity, and consequently, more resilient populations.
- Engage constituents in learning about the Northern Damselfly and its habitat.
- Ensure the Biodiversity Strategy for Scotland is fully implemented.
Threats
- Loss of habitat through natural succession.
- Climate change – increasing temperatures and erratic rainfall threaten the viability of the species shallow habitat.
- Ditch installation and drainage.
- Afforestation and natural regeneration of invasive forestry species.
- Competition with more southern species on the move north with climate change.
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