Good news for conservation: Dainty Damselfly found in UK after more than half a century
Last updated 7/23/2010 8:41:50 AM
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Dainty Damselfly found in UK after more than half a century (c) Andy McGeeney
It's been AWOL for more than half a century. Now a delicate, blue-hued insect has re-appeared in the UK, to the delight of conservationists.
The dainty damselfly is a smaller relative of dragonflies and was washed away in the severe coastal floods of 1952/3. But it's back at a site in north Kent.
Dave Smallshire, from the BDS British Dragonfly Conservation Group, said: "It's most likely that they've come in from the continent.
The spread northwards across the continent seems to be associated with climate change and it's quite likely that they've caught a lift on a southerly breeze and popped across the English Channel. Next year we would be looking for evidence that they have bred successfully in Britain."
The species recently established itself again in Belgium after a long absence, and has been documented for the first time in The Netherlands. Last year, specimens were found in Jersey.