 |
|
Red-veined Darters in Leicestershire, 2002
A female Red-veined Darter at Huncote Pools, 19th June 2002Richard Fray takes up the story...
Steve Whitehouse, who is well-known as the birder who runs Birdline Midlands, is also a dragonfly enthusiast with a great deal of experience, and has seen many Red-veined Darters this year in his home county of Worcs. He was convinced that this individual was a Red-veined. I then received the following reply from Steve Dudley (via Andy Mackay's contact). Steve is also well-known as a top birder, but is a genuine odonata expert of some repute, and has written extensively about British dragonfly identification. Steve says: It is a Red-veined Darter. It is a very mature female (anal appendages) and can be identified as follows:
Further positive identifications came from Steve Cham of the British Dragonfly Society, and Peter Reeve of the Warwickshire Dragonfly Group, both via Steve Houghton. Many thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to this interesting identification puzzle. We've all learnt a great deal, and experiences like this can only help us to improve our knowledge and enjoyment of watching these fascinating creatures. And in particular, well done Adey for spotting that this individual was just a little bit different! Directions to the site, and a little site info, from Adey BakerThere is no official public right of way, but the Quarry Company who own all the area between Croft Quarry and Thurlaston Brook are quite happy for people to walk around the area, nature-watching or dog-walking etc. But they don't like motorbikes, so they've put a length of barbed wire across the gap in the hedge where you go in - low enough to deter bikers but high enough for all but the most arthritic walkers to bend down under! Access is off the road between Huncote & Croft and there's room for about three cars in the gateway at map ref SP 513 972 (click for Streetmap pointer). Assuming you're coming from Leicester, the easiest way is via the Narborough Road - take the last right turn in Narborough signed to Huncote then drive through the village of Huncote. After you go over the bridge as you are leaving the village, the gateway is at the end of the first field you pass on the left. You can climb over the gate but the gap in the hedge is only 10 yards farther on - if the gateway is full there are a few hard areas on the roadside farther along as the road winds around Croft Hill. The bank of course is right in front of you and stretches all the way down to where Thurlaston Brook meets the River Soar. The darter was half way along the first section where the path along the top has some shelter provided by gorse bushes. The whole area warrants exploration for insects such as butterflies. The bank is developing well - there are good numbers of Wall Brown and Essex Skipper and two years ago I had a Brown Argus - I didn't have much time to follow up last year so who knows if there are any this year. Dragonflies are best along the brook and attendant pools which you can see from the top of the bank. Wherever you come off the top you will have to work your way through the tree plantations and long grass - not good for hay-fever sufferers! A Red-veined Darter at Kelham Bridge, July 2002 Ian Merrill
The Kelham Bridge individual exhibited a bright, brick red abdomen, which I would describe as midway between the ground colours of mature male Common and Ruddy Darters. The abdomen was noticeably parallel sided and showed obvious thick black markings on segments eight and nine. The wings were a real give away, showing obvious red colouring to the costa and veining to the inner portion of both fore and hind wings. The hind wings showed obvious yellow patches to the basal areas, while the pterostigma were classically yellow with strong black borders giving a 'stained glass window' effect. Close examination also revealed the diagnostic blue undersides to the eyes (the insect could be viewed at point-blank range due it's semi-torpid late evening state), though my notes do not mention the yellow leg stripes; I can only assume that they are not particularly obvious in this species? Luckily I had my camera with me (though sadly it didn't have the macro lens attached) and I was able to get some record shots of our prize. A phone call to Graham Finch brought a digital video camera to the scene and the event was firmly recorded for posterity. The darter was obviously going nowhere that evening, but the next problem was access to the site. We had been watching the insect well away from the pubic access track and it could not, therefore, be viewed without entering the fenced-off area of the nature reserve. General access could not be granted to this area and the dilemma was compounded by the fact that heavy earthmoving equipment was being used to carry out improvement works on an adjoining part of the site. It was decided to arrange personal guided tours the following weekend, should the darter still be present. Though Baz photographed it early on the morning of the 4th July, this was the last sighting and sadly a wider audience did not enjoy it. The origin of the insect can only be speculated upon, but judging by the relatively widespread occurrences of this species in Britain this year a continental source seems likely. The very tatty wings of this individual could be construed as an indicator that it had travelled some distance as a migrant, though could equally mean that it was just very old (personally I prefer the sound of the former explanation!) Though strictly a Mediterranean species, the Red-veined Darter has been occurring on a more regular basis in recent years, quite possibly encouraged by our warming climate. Some colonies now seem to be established in this country, one as close as Worcestershire. If only our Leicestershire male and female had got together who knows what may have happened…
|
|