On three evenings of extremely hot days in July of 2018 and 2019 large groups of high-flying Spotted Darter (Sympetrum depressiusculum) were encountered in the Woldlakebos in the northwest of Overijssel. These swarms were not migrating but stationary. They were foraging on little insects that under these weather conditions were able to fly high.
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100 years of Dutch dragonfly research
The availability of opportunistic dragonfly data in the Netherlands spanning >100 years gave us the opportunity to quantitatively assess long term changes in range size. We estimated changes in the number of occupied 5 km × 5 km sites by applying a modified List Length method, which takes into account changes in observation effort. Trends […]
Nitrogen deposition negative for dragonflies from nutrient-poor environments
11-APR-2022 – Dragonflies are sensitive to changes in freshwater. Many dragonfly species are doing well, but especially many species from nutrient-poor environments have negative trends. Too high nitrogen deposition can lead to food richness and acidification. NatureToday (in Dutch)
Odonata wing vein preferences in haemolymph sucking Forcipomyia paludis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae; Odonata)
In summer 2020, the Odonata fauna in the Weerribben-Wieden National Park was examined at various localities for the Odonata parasite Forcipomyia paludis NatureToday. This park is currently one of the localities in the Netherlands where the species is found every year. Five localities in the area have been studied and many of the Odonata species […]
Dragonflies in 2019 in the Netherlands
2019 was a very special year for Anax ephippiger. They were found in various places in 2018, particularly along the coast. Not only in large numbers to the Netherlands, but have also reproduced en masse. Thousands of larval skins have been found. Leucorrhinia caudalis has settled in the Weerribben-Wieden National Park after a long period […]
The return of the Whitefaces in the Netherlands
Two years ago, Leucorrhinia albifrons was considered extinct in the Netherlands, and the same was true for Leucorrhinia caudalis a little earlier. Both species are now back and we have a total of five species of Whitefaces in the Netherlands. In 2009 a new species came to the Netherlands: Leucorrhinia caudalis. The species was found […]
Southern dragonfly species in NL
This year there was an invasion of Southern dragonfly species in the Netherlands. Southern Darter (Sympetrum meridionale) was one of the species that was clearly present and could be seen in many locations.
Larval skins of Vagrant emperor (Anax epipphiger)
A lot has been published in recent weeks about the Vagrant emperor (Anax epipphiger). Reproduction of the species is new to the Netherlands. Today I photographed the Anax larval skins, which I collected in the Millingerwaard on 27-8. All this together with the Blue emperor (Anax imperator) shows the difference in the prementum.
A lot of fresh Vagrant emperor (Anax ephippiger)
Emerging Vagrant emperor (Anax ephippiger) in the NL The Vagrant emperor (Anax ephippiger) is a relative newcomer and was first seen in the Netherlands in 1995. In recent years they reproduce more often in southern Europe in summer and since then they have appeared in the Netherlands. Anax ephippiger were seen in almost all of […]
Gomphus vulgatissimus eating P. pennipes
In 2016 I saw this male Gomphus vulgatissimus while it was eating a female Platycnemis pennipes.