Dr Pam Taylor, President of the British Dragonfly Society has kindly answered some questions about Dragonflies and their efforts to conserve them.

Can you first tell us a bit about dragonflies, what exactly are they, their habits etc?

Dragonflies have been in existence since before the age of the dinosaurs. They are essentially aquatic creatures, spending on average one to three years living in the water as larvae before emerging as adults. Dragonflies are stunning insects, relatively large and colourful as adults, they are superb fliers. Both as larvae and adults they are voracious predators, feeding on smaller insects and other tiny creatures. Larger dragonflies can be very curious, approaching people and hovering in front of them. They are harmless to humans and their beauty enhances any location.

What about British dragonflies. How many types are there? Where can they be spotted and which part of the country has the most?

Dragonflies can be found anywhere where there is a water body of reasonable quality. This includes small ponds, large lakes, ditches, streams and rivers. A total of 43 species are resident or have been recorded regularly in Britain since 1970. A further 12 species have arrived as rare vagrants. Particular species may be associated with a particular type of water habitat, others can be found across all habitat types. 15 species are widely reported from gardens, either breeding in garden ponds or visiting gardens to hunt for food. They can be found throughout Britain, although the greatest variety is found in the south of England. It is worth noting that a suitable garden pond in southern Britain could have up to half-a-dozen species breeding in it. Good dragonfly-attracting ponds are unshaded, with abundant pondweeds that provide habitat for larvae to live and hunt within. A few floating pondweeds make platforms for damselflies to land on and emergent plants give dragonflies places to climb when they leave the water to transform into flying adults.

What is the status of dragonflies? Are their numbers in decline and what pressures are there on their habitats?

It is a mixed picture. Some species are doing well and have either infilled gaps in their range or spread northwards over the decade. Britain has also gained several new species from the continent over the past few years and there are signs that other species are in the process of spreading to Britain. Recent colonists include Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum, Willow Emerald Damselfly Lestes viridis and Southern Migrant Hawer Aeshna affinis. One former species, Dainty Damselfly Coenagrion scitulum, has even reappeared in Britain after an absence of over half a century. By way of contrast, species with more specialised habitat requirements are under threat because of the fragmentation and loss or deterioration of habitats such as heathland. The distance between remaining habitat fragments means that the chance of them spreading is reduced. Other species are threatened by climate change, as drought or floods adversely affect their habitats. In total almost a third of our resident 43 species are in decline or threatened.

What is the British Dragonfly Society doing to maintain and improve dragonfly populations in the British Isles?

The British Dragonfly Society has undertaken or supported a number of projects to improve the habitat for threatened species to improve the sustainability of populations. A good example of this is habitat improvement projects for Southern Damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale in Pembrokeshire. Through our recording efforts we are gaining a better understanding of the requirements of key species and are able to improve the advice that we give to site owners about what can be done to conserve their dragonflies. We are also involved directly with species conservation work for species such as White-faced Darter Leucorrhinia dubia.

The BDS has also recently completed survey work for a new atlas of dragonfly distribution and this is due for publication in late 2013.

If gardeners want to attract dragonflies to their garden, what are the chances of being able to do so? How could they create the perfect mini dragonfly reserve? Are there certain plants that attract them and should the pond be situated in a sunny or shady area? Is there anything else that is needed such as a shallow edge or rocks?

We have a leaflet that can be downloaded from our BDS website that provides advice and guidance. Generally a pond should be a reasonable size, a minimum of 2m², in a sunny position, with a mix of native plant species, including plants rooted in the water to provide sites for the larvae to emerge. Shallow sloping edges are helpful and the presence of rocks is not a problem provided there are not too many. A key aspect is that the pond should not also hold fish. The leaflet can be download from HERE

How can people help your society? Are there opportunities to volunteer?

We welcome and encourage all those interested in dragonflies to join the British Dragonfly Society. Members receive a regular magazine and journal with news and articles about dragonflies. They also have the opportunity to attend meetings and take part in site visits and walks. We are always keen to hear from those who would like to get more involved and we welcome records of dragonflies that have been seen. Please see HERE if you have dragonfly records to submit. Our new recording initiative, DragonflyWatch, will use regular reports from individual sites, including garden ponds, to develop and publish indices that track any changes in dragonfly populations.

Do you have a personal favourite Dragonfly, if so which one and why?

Large Red Damselfly is a particular favourite. It is usually the first species to emerge in spring and is a sign that a new season is starting. Coincidentally it is the species which is most frequently reported from gardens and we have a special campaign in Scotland starting in 2013 to encourage everyone to report this species through online recording.

Can you explain the difference between a Dragonfly and a Damselfly?

The term dragonfly is used to include both dragonflies and damselflies, which can be a little bit confusing. True dragonflies are generally larger and sturdier insects that hold their wings at right angles to their body at rest and have eyes that meet at the top of their head. Damselflies are smaller and more delicate. They hold their wings over their body when at rest and their eyes are separate on either side of the head.

If people would like to go on a 'Dragonfly safari' where are the best places in the UK to see them? Why do these areas attract the rarest dragonflies or the largest amounts in terms of numbers?

The Events page of our website gives details of walks and other events that are run by the British Dragonfly Society across all parts of Britain. The BDS also has a Dragonfly Centre at the National Trust reserve at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire which is manned most weekends throughout the season. In partnership with The Dragonfly Project, we run some special events there and again, full details can be found on our website, HERE

Is there a book you would recommend as a field guide for dragonfly spotting?

Yes, Britain’s Dragonflies by Dave Smallshire & Andy Swash 2010, WILDGuides - ISBN978-1-903657-29-4

Aimed at both beginners and experts, this is the only comprehensive photographic guide to the dragonflies of Britain and Ireland now in print. It covers all 56 recorded species, plus seven potential vagrants, with an identification guide for larvae and exuviae. Note that if you order this book directly from the BDS shop HERE, the society will benefit even more from each copy sold.

website www.british-dragonflies.org.uk