surface on stems or leaves. Sites selected are usually on plants at the edge of marginal
fringes, adjacent to open water, and a metre or so apart. Intruding pairs in tandem are
'seen off by territorial males as they approach, and there are periodic disturbances in
which numbers of perching males will take briefly to the wing, only to settle back at their
original site again. It may be that this territorial perching plays a role in mate-location,
and also in guarding potential ovipositing sites. Territorial conflict between males of E.
cyathigerum is also extended to competition between this species and Erythromma
najas.
The flight period for this species in Essex during the period of this survey was from
the last week in May until the end of September. This is a long flight period, and
corresponds closely with that given in Hammond (1983).
Enallagma cyathigerum appeared on Doubleday's (1871) list for Epping, and on
subsequent lists for the Forest. Pinniger (1933) referring to it as 'probably the
commonest of the small species'. Longfield (1949b) gave the Walthamstow Reservoirs as
well as Epping Forest, and there are numerous records from other parts of the county:
Hatfield Forest (1939,1940,1948, D. A. Ashwell), Benfleet (? date, C.O. Hammond; 1936,
1949, E. B. Pinniger), River Lee (1943, C. O. Hammond); Stanford Rivers, Margaretting
and Shelley (1949, B. T. Ward), and Wanstead Park (1897, F. A. Walker).
Survey results for 1980 to 1987 show this to be one of the most widespread and
abundant species of Odonata in the county. It has been recorded from fifty-four out of
the possible fifty-seven 10 km. squares in the county. Like most other species it is more
thinly distributed in the north-west of the county, but this reflects paucity of habitat for
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