Club-Tailed Dragonfly LBAP


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CLUB-TAILED DRAGONFLY (GOMPHUS VULGATISSIMUS)
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Links to associated HAPs

None

Current Status

This dragonfly is described as nationally scarce, it is extremely local but can occur in large populations when the habitat is suitable. Strong populations are known to exist on the rivers Severn, Wye and Thames. In Cheshire club-tailed dragonfly occurs on the stretch of the River Dee between Shocklach and Aldford. The short flight period of the dragonfly restricts surveying opportunities to the last week in May and first two weeks in June. The River Gowy, which flows within 5km of the Dee, could possibly provide further suitable breeding habitat for the dragonfly, although regular dredging of the river channel may pose problems.

The club-tailed dragonfly is a medium-sized yellow/green and black dragonfly with a noticeably club-shaped tail. It favours slow flowing rivers with silt deposits for the larvae and adjacent tree cover for the adults. The larvae may take up to five years to mature with emergence occurring in late May early June.

Threats

Water pollution
Disturbance of bank sides during the emergence season
Flood prevention measures
Loss of suitable emergence sites

How are we helping to conserve the Club-tailed Dragonfly in the Cheshire region?

Records collated by the county recorder
Members of the British Dragonfly Society (and others) have recorded the species at it's established site since it was discovered in 1985.
In May 2002 volunteers carried out an extensive survey of both banks of the River Dee between Bangor on Dee and Aldford. Adults and exuvia were observed in smaller numbers than in previous years but the up and downstream limits of the occupied area were confirmed.
In 2002 Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and English Nature (EN) have put forward the entire length of the River Dee as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with club tailed dragonfly as a listed feature. In addition the river is also being proposed as a candidate Special Area of Conservation.

Objectives, Targets and Actions

OBJECTIVES	LOCAL TARGETS
To maintain the current populations of club-tailed dragonfly in the Cheshire region by preventing actions likely to damage suitable breeding sites and increasing awareness of the ecological requirements for the species with land managers / owners	1. To provide an accurate measure of population size in the Cheshire region by 2003. 2. To improve our knowledge and understanding of the species through research and detailed survey.
ACTIONS REQUIRED
Thorough survey of the rivers Gowy and Dee. Maintenance of water quality, increasing public awareness of maintaining clean rivers with silt substrates. Ensure adjacent landowners are aware of the presence of the breeding dragonfly, and promote sympathetic management. Discourage or warn of dangers of bank side use during most important emergence week. Highlight importance of the species with the construction of an interpretation board

Progress so far

1997 - 2006 Action Completed

In 2001 all located exuvia along a stretch of the River Dee around Farndon were removed and counted.
Survey work continued in 2003 along the River Dee to the south of Chester, the only known site for the species in Cheshire.

How to find out more about the Club-tailed Dragonfly

Cheshire Dragonflies and Damselflies website - http://www.brocross.com/dfly/dfly.htm
British Dragonfly Society - www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/

Contact details

LBAP Chair

Paul Hill, Lepidoptera & Odonata LBAP Action Group
Phone: 0871 734 0111

References & Glossary

HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2: Action Plans, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.

WWW Cheshire Biodiversity

WELCOME TO CHESHIRE BIODIVERSITY PART OF THE CHESHIRE REGION BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP

CLUB-TAILED DRAGONFLY (GOMPHUS VULGATISSIMUS) LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN