One Planet News: Rare dragonfly reintroduced to England
Rare dragonfly gets a helping hand
By Annette J Beveridge
A rare dragonfly is being translocated, marking a significant step in conservation efforts.
White-faced darters have suffered from destruction of their peatland habitat, drainage and conversion to agriculture, peat cutting and afforestation, where trees have been planted on land not previously forested.
With limited suitable sites remaining, the dragonflies are at risk from climate change, and in particular, the drying out of their bog pool breeding sites in increasingly hot, dry summers.
The translocation project takes place at a hidden corner of Cumbria at RSPB Campfield Marsh, with the aim of increasing the biodiversity of invertebrates of the South Solway Mosses National Nature Reserve. This is a collaborative effort with RSPB Campfield Marsh, Natural England, the British Dragonfly Society, and Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
RSPB Cumbria Coastal Reserves Manager, Mhairi Maclauchlan, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to boost biodiversity in this beautiful and hidden corner of Cumbria, helping to create a new population of this charming but endangered species.”
Read more: The jewel of the river
The white-faced darter, named for its distinctive chalk-white face, is a small but striking dragonfly. Males are black with vibrant red-orange markings, while females are black with yellow markings. They are fairly widespread in the west of Scotland, but the numbers in England have severely declined.
Maclauchlan added: “It’s incredibly rewarding to know we have created the right conditions for white-faced darters, and we’re delighted to carry on the legacy and successes of the other projects in Cumbria.
“By carefully restoring the wetland habitat and ensuring the right balance of Sphagnum-rich pools, we’re hopeful that these dragonflies will establish themselves here. If this year’s translocation is successful, we could see adults emerging next spring and we hope to see this area alive with this species of dragonfly in the coming years.”
With the support of the British Dragonfly Society, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, and Natural England, RSPB staff and volunteers carefully collected small amounts of Sphagnum moss containing dragonfly larvae, transporting it in buckets to where they will continue their life cycle. This will continue for up to five years to ensure a stable population can be established.
The British Dragonfly Society Conservation officer (BDS), Eleanor Colver, said: “The white-faced darter is one of our rarest dragonflies and the BDS is committed to stabilising the British population. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss and climate change, the species cannot be reintroduced to its more southerly historic breeding sites in England. However, the cooler climate of the Solway coast and the healthy peatbog of Campfield Marsh provide perfect conditions for the species to thrive.
“Success will depend on many factors, but with the combined expertise of the RSPB, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Natural England, and our local BDS volunteers, we are confident this project will be as successful.
“Many of our fastest declining dragonflies are peatland specialists, so we hope this project highlights the importance of peatland restoration for these insects, as well as of other at-risk species, such as curlew”.
In July, RSPB Campfield Marsh will officially become a designated ‘Dragonfly Hotspot’ as chosen by the British Dragonfly Society because of the site and the Solway Mosses’ importance for dragonflies in the UK, meaning the site will be actively promoted as a key location for dragonfly conservation and public engagement.
‘Dragonfly Hotspots’ are carefully chosen because they are fantastic places for visitors to learn about dragonflies and damselflies; RSPB Campfield Marsh will be the 12th English Dragonfly Hotspot site.
