Contribute Your Records

The main aim of the Leicestershire and Rutland Dragonfly Group is to encourage as many observers as possible to take part in our recording scheme. Members of the Loughborough Naturalists Club have been recording dragonflies in their area, and further afield, for many years, and their efforts have been computerized by Helen Ikin. Until recently data have been collated using the British Dragonfly Society's database, Darter. Over the winter of 2003/4 Helen and Ian Merrill have, with the co-operation of Leicestershire County Council’s Biological Records Centre, entered all historic data onto the Mapmate database. Mapmate is more user friendly than Darter, will produce instant distribution atlases and is used widely as a biological recording tool across the Country.

With the formation of the Dragonfly Group, we hope to be able to involve many more people in this recording. Up-to-date atlases have now been produced, drawing upon all of VC55’s historic odonata records. Hopefully, this data will encourage observers to find new sites, and search for new species at existing sites, thus filling in some of the blank spaces on the maps. Additionally, collaboration with the BDS will allow us to contribute our records to the national database, and help with defining the population trends on a national scale. So your records will truly be very useful.

 Where can I get Recording Forms?

• Click here to download LRDG recording forms

 Where do I send my Recording Forms?

Please ensure that the forms are filled out as clearly as possible, and cut into singles, then post them to:

Ian Merrill, 20 Ashford Road, Whitwick, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 5GD

 Rarer species

If you are lucky enough to discover one of the rarer species in our County, we have a Rare Species Recording Form to fill in so it can be recorded in greater detail. The forms are simple to fill in and, as long as you are able to write exactly what you have seen (and preferably include a photograph if possible), they should not present any problems. All records of rare dragonflies and damselflies in Leicestershire & Rutland are subject to acceptance by the rare species panel. The species that require additional details are:

Any species not yet recorded in the county (= any species not listed on the species menu in the left-hand column). Please note: Golden-ringed Dragonfly has recently been removed from the county list as there is no supporting evidence for its inclusion.

Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo
Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense away from confirmed breeding sites
Common Hawker Aeshna juncea
Black Darter Sympetrum danae
Yellow-winged Darter Sympetrum flaveolum
Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii
Variable Damselfly Coenagrion pulchellum away from Grantham Canal, the only regular site

 Recording Form Compilation Notes by Ian Merrill

The recording form has been designed to permit easy inputting of records to the Mapmate database. Although some of the fields may seem of an unorthodox format, please adhere to the form's requirements so that amendments by data inputters are not necessary.

1. Clearly identify the site to which the records relate and enter records for that single site alone. If it is a new site then some brief notes (e.g. ‘recently created field pond adjacent to mature hedgerow’) would be of use and can be entered into the database.

2. Enter the date on which the observations were made, but ensure that only observations made on a single date are entered on each form. This format is required for data inputting into Mapmate.

3. Enter an Ordnance Survey six-figure National Grid Reference for the site in question. For large or in particular linear sites (e.g. Grantham Canal), a four-figure grid reference should be given and just one recording form submitted per 1 km (four figure) grid square. If you regularly record at any of the County’s canals (Ashby, Grand Union or Grantham) please contact Ian Merrill who can provide a custom-drawn recording map. Grid References are essential for the production of species distribution maps through Mapmate.

4. The species recording section should be self-explanatory when used in conjunction with the keys provided. Please adhere to the nomenclature given in order to permit straightforward inputting of your data to Mapmate. Records of exuvia represent invaluable proof of breeding at a site. Any unidentified exuvia may be submitted with record forms for future identification. Records of extra-limital species, those not regularly recorded in the county and not listed on the form, should be inserted by hand as necessary (see ‘Rarer species’ section above)

5. Any additional notes may be added on the reverse side of the recording form. Please indicate that notes have been added by ticking the box provided and they will be transferred to Mapmate.

6. Completed forms should be posted to the address shown. Please do not e-mail record cards. The recording system is currently set up to deal with manual recording form submission only.