List of dragonflies of Menorca: Difference between revisions

Menorca is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Along with Majorca, Ibiza, and Formentera it is part of the Balearic Islands. lt has a population of approximately 88,000. It is located 39°47' to 40°00'N, 3°52' to 4°24'E. It is a 'dry' island without many wetlands or river systems; many of the wetlands in Menorca were drained to provide agricultural land. Despite this dragonflies are abundant on Menorca and in summer any pool of water will be alive with them. The best months to see dragonflies are May to September.

The taxonomy follows that of Dijkstra, K-D.B & Lewington, R. (2006).

Family Calopterygidae (Demoiselles)

• Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis, Copper demoiselle. Locally abundant in the right habitat.

Family Lestidae (Emerald damselflies or spreadwings)

• Sympecma fusca, Winter damselfly. Can be found in the winter months as S. fusca overwinters as an adult.
• Lestes viridis (Chalcolestes viridis), Willow emerald damselfly
• Lestes barbarus, Southern emerald damselfly

Family Coenagrionidae (Blue, blue-tailed & red damselflies)

• Ischnura elegans, Blue-tailed damselfly. Common all over the island.
• Ceriagrion tenellum, Small red damselfly
• Coenagrion caerulescens, Mediterranean bluet
• Erythromma lindenii (Cercion lindenii), Blue-eye, also called the Goblet-marked Damselfly.

Family Aeshnidae (Hawkers and Emperors)

• Aeshna affinis, Blue-eyed hawker
• Aeshna mixta, Migrant hawker

A. affinis and A. mixta are very alike in appearance. Blue aeshna are not uncommon in late summer in Menorca but there are not many positive identifications of either species on record.

• Aeshna isoceles often put into the genus Anaciaeschna, Green-eyed hawker. This species flies early in the year and is the only brown aeshna found on Menorca. can be seen in the Algendar gorge.
• Anax imperator, Emperor dragonfly also called Blue emperor. Common.
• Anax parthenope, Lesser emperor

Family Libellulidae (Chasers, Skimmers and Darters)

• Libellula depressa, Broad-bodied chaser
• Orthetrum cancellatum, Black-tailed skimmer. Fairly common
• Orthetrum coerulescens, Keeled skimmer
• Sympetrum striolatum, Common darter.
• Sympetrum fonscolombii, Red-veined darter. Common.
• Crocothemis erythraea, Scarlet dragonfly or Broard scarlet. Fairly common

Most darters seen in Menorca with a very red colouring are S. fonscolombii but some are C. erythraea which occurs in many of the same locations. On close observation these two species can be told apart as they have quite different body shapes. Also S. fonscolombii usually oviposits in tandem whereas female C. erythraea oviposit solo.

• List of butterflies of Minorca

• Askew, R.R. (2004) The Dragonflies of Europe. (revised ed.) Harley Books. . ISBN 0946589755
• d'Aguilar, J., Dommanget, JL., and Prechac, R. (1986) A field guide to the Dragonflies of Britain, Europe and North Africa. Collins. . ISBN 0002194368
• Boudot JP., et al. (2009) Atlas of the Odonata of the Mediterranean and North Africa. Libellula Supplement 9:1-256.
• Dijkstra, K-D.B & Lewington, R. (2006) Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe. British Wildlife Publishing. ISBN 0953139948.
• Ocharan, F.J., (1987) Neuvos datos sobre los odonatos de Menorca (Espana). Bol. R. Soc. Espanola Hist. Nat. (Biol.). 83 (1-4):155-161

• http://www.iberianwildlife.com/spain/dragonflies-damselflies-spain.htm