Due to the drastically lower numbers of odonata observable in my area and changes, most of which are minor, occurring at a much slower pace, keeping independent yearly lists for dragon- and damselflies would be a waste o time and storage space at this time.
Despite this, some rather significant observations were made in the season of 2024 warranting some additional commentary. Ischnura elegans and Calopteryx splendens made its very first appearances.
The latter may be an indicator of its possible status as a local species complex with Calopteryx splendens: all females that have been registered so far demonstrated varying coloring ranging from metallic-green bodies and green wings to metallic-yellow/brown bodies with nearly-transparent wings. All individuals fit the description of the various stages of the female Calopteryx splendens, which, like Calopteryx virgo, claim larger territories than their male counterparts, theoretically excluding the possibility of Calopteryx virgo even being native to my study area(s). My first – and for this season last – observation of a male Calopteryx virgo in Zone II while no females of this species made an appearance in- and outside of my dedicated zones throughout the entire year raises multiple questions, one being where this male rather suddenly came from, the other being whether this single male perhaps mated with the female Calopteryx splendens.
Speaking of Calopteryx splendens: This species expanded its territories southwards right into the central part of my village, whereas the tiny population near the main street bridge disappeared halfway through the season. Aeshna cyanea also claimed new territories, now being common in all main zones, the additional zone "Mixed Field" and in my village. Coenagrion mercuriale expanded to the main street bridge, Pyrrhosoma nymphula to Zone III.
Sympetrum sanguinem made its first appearance in 2023 right between Zone III and zone "Yard" during the last round of the mating period, however this year I was only able to register it in zone "Meisel Forest", being completely absent from my main study area.
Due to the wetter weather persisting throughout the majority of 2024, Sympetrum vulgatum also only appeared once close to my village, highlighting this genus' sensitivity to humid conditions.
A rather strange case poses Enallagma cyanthigerum, which only has been observed once in Zone I in 2023. As Zone I, contrary to the official announcement, is being intentionally (over-)grazed after a long pause since 2019, its chances of ever returning are close to zero now due to this species not having "permanently" migrated to a spot closer to either the streams crossing Zone II and III or the pond making up the center of the latter zone.
The zone in which this species was observed by me already was odd on its own. Zone I lacks the streams and the pond that make Zone II and Zone III most attractive to damselflies, with "Cherry Hill" only being noticeable in terms of its adaptability to the shifting dry and wet seasons that may last up to a little over a year each. Enallagma cyathigerum made its only appearance during the transition period between those seasons, hinting at the possibility that it used this rather short time window to expand northwards and relying on Zone I (and possibly Zone II) as a corridor following the bike path up to one of the streams crossing "David's Fields".
Just like in terms of butterflies, 2024 was a strong season for odonata. The sudden re-implementation of the "management" of both "Bog Hill" and "Cherry Hill" will play a significant role next season, with the remaining damselflies in particular possibly no longer occupying both zones. Indeed, damselflies appear to already have disappeared entirely during the 2022 season which was heavily influenced by a drought; the first and last time I registered a single azure blue, yet unidentified damselfly in the FFH territory.
On the other hand, the growing populations of Caloperyx splendens and Coenagrion mercuriale are promising results of this season. The appearance of Calopteryx virgo also offers a new opportunity to study the concept of species complexes and how this species may or may not fall into this category.