Working to conserve dragonflies and their wetland habitats

Latest News

  • Onychogomphus forcipatus unguiculatus

    Nuno Loureiro, a biologist from the University of Algarve, Portugal has recently launched a website entirely dedicated to the dragonfly fauna of the region (www.odonata-algarve.info). If you are planning a holiday in the Algarve, you can now share your dragonfly sightings from the region and add to the records stored in their database, making them available to everyone.

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  • Northern Damselfly

    Scottish Natural Heritage has just approved a new two-year grant for the BDS. It will enable us to expand our conservation work in Scotland, as well as raise public awareness of dragonflies within the country. This adds to the grant already obtained from Natural Resources Wales and our partnership agreement with the Environment Agency.

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  • Large Red Damselfly - David Kitching

    A Large Red Damselfy was seen on Sunday 14th April in Norfolk.  This is the first sighting of an adult dragonfly or damselfly in 2013.  Keep an eye out for emerging dragonflies if you are near a waterbody! Species that emerge early in the year include the Large Red Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser and Hairy Dragonfly. Don't forget to enter your record on our recording page too.

    www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/submit-records

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View earlier news stories

Dragonflies

Welcome to the website of the British Dragonfly Society.  The site has lots of features including an online recording system and online shop.  If you want to join the BDS or make a donation, you can do that here.  There is even a section on the biology and ecology of dragonflies, plus details of the best places to see them.

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How You Can Help

The BDS needs your support. Although many species of dragonfly are doing well almost a third of our species are in decline.  Following successful recording for the atlas, due for publication in autumn 2013, we need volunteers to DragonflyWatch.  This map shows atlas progress up  to the end of 2011.

Atlas progress March 2012

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Star of the Month

Large Red DamselflyNow that spring has really started it will be time for the emergence of the first Broad-bodied Chasers which are common across Southern Britain.  They are to be seen over shallow, sunny ponds often found by newly established ponds and start emerging in May.  They have characteristic flattened abdomens which in the males are pale blue with yellow edge spots.


 

 


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