Henry Doubleday (1871) considered it 'very common' on Coopersale Common and
other places near Epping. W. H. Harwood (1903) declared it to be 'extremely local',
giving Doubleday's Coopersale Common as a locality as well as Woodford, on
Harcourt Bath's authority. The Campion brothers first observed the species in Epping
Forest, apparently in at least two sites, in 1906 (Campion and Campion. 1906). and it was
regularly referred to subsequently. A specimen collected by them in 1909 is at the Hope
Department of Entomology. Cordulia aenea was observed by J. E. H. Roberts in the
Forest in 1926 (Lucas, 1927) and is on Syms' (1929) list for the Forest. Pinniger (1933)
reported it as a common species there, and it appeared regularly on his subsequently
annual lists. C. O. Hammond observed the species at several different sites in the Forest
(Strawberry Hill Pond. Wake Valley Pond and one other pond) on numerous occasions
between 1923 and 1945. According to Longfield (1949b) the species was 'plentiful and
widespread' in the London area. It was also 'definitely increasing' as a breeding species.
In Epping Forest, she said, it was to be seen at all the larger ponds. Pinniger. Syms and
Ward (1950) also reported it from ponds in Epping Forest in 1949. and the Queen
Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge Museum has a specimen collected by B. T. Ward in the
Forest in 1949. Outside Epping Forest, C. aenea was recorded from the lake at Hatfield
Forest by D. A. Ashwell in 1939 (B.R.C.) and 1940 (B.M. (N.H.) specimens).
Since 1980 the species has been regularly recorded by E. P. Ryan and others at Wake
Valley Pond, Lower Forest Lake, Earls Path Pond and the Lost Pond, all in Epping
Forest. The species may be more widespread than this within the Forest, but no longer
appears to occur anywhere else in Essex. Attempts to confirm its continued existence at
Hatfield Forest have proved negative. Though the species appears to be in no
immediate danger in its current sites, and has. indeed, always been extremely local in
Essex, it remains a rare species in need of protection in our county.
Libellula depressa (Linne. 1758) Broad-bodied Chaser
This medium sized darter dragonfly is widely distributed and often common in the
south of England and the Midlands. Both male and female have a noticeably wider
abdomen than any other dragonfly, the female abdomen being brown with yellow
margins, whilst the dorsal surface of the male abdomen is powder-blue at full maturity
(brown as in the female in teneral specimens). As well as the body-shape, the dark
brown blotches at the wing bases distinguish this species from Orthetrum cancellatum.
Only one other Essex species. Libellula quadrimaculata, could be confused with L.
depressa, but this has no blue colouration in the mature male, a narrower abdomen, and
dark spots near the leading edge, at the middle of each wing (L. depressa has no such
spots).
The females are frequently observed away from the breeding sites, whilst the males
are strongly territorial on the ponds, lakes or pits where they breed. Mating usually takes
place in flight, and the female begins ovipositing directly afterwards. Like O.
cancellatum, L. depressa is an early coloniser of newly created artificial sites, and is
tolerant of sites with little or no marginal vegetation. However, in Essex the species
appears to be significantly more scarce and local than O. cancellatum. The flight period
recorded in Essex is from late May to the second week in August.
Libellula depressa appeared on H. Doubleday's (1871) Epping list as 'very common'.
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