Dragonfly and Damselfly monitoring on the Writtle College estate - the first five years
butterfly transects, so that the habitat preferences of different species could be ascertained. The
habitats present and management regimes for each of the transect sections is presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Habitat and management regime of each transect section
Section Habitat Management
1 S & W W non-intervention
2 A, H, P, R & S H coppiced
3 M, S & W W non-intervention
4 AM, S & V AM mown regularly
5 A, RV, S & W W non-intervention
6 A, FM, H & RV FM mown in August
7 A, FM, P & RV FM mown in August
8 A, FM, H & RV FM mown in August
A = arable AM - amenity FM = field margin
H = hedgerow M = moat P = pasture
R = reservoir RV = river S = stream
V = verge W = woodland
The monitoring was conducted once every two weeks from May to early September from 1997 to
2001. The surveys commenced between 1100 and 1300 hours and were valid when temperature in
the shade was above 17°C, there was at least 50% sunshine (at least four of the eight sections
classified as 'sunny1) and the wind was not more than force 2-3 on the Beaufort scale (Brooks
1993). Several surveys have had to be abandoned whilst in progress during the five years due to
deterioration in weather conditions. This has, therefore, resulted in variable numbers of visits
being completed each year.
Results
Six Damselfly species were recorded on the Writtle College estate during the monitoring period
(Table 2). The most common species was Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens._ which formed
66% of the total number of individuals that were recorded. Other commonly occurring species
were Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum and Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella.
Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula and White-legged Damselfly Platycnemis pennipes
were both rarities on the College estate.
Table 2. Total number of individuals and status of all Damselfly (Zygoptera)
species recorded over the five year period
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 19 (2002)