Worcestershire Record No. 17 November 2004 p. 17

Mike Averill

The Club-tailed Dragonfly Gomphus vulgatissimus is nationally scarce in the British Isles but has a stronghold in Worcestershire where it probably occurs in more 1 Km squares than any other county. In the last 30 years this dragonfly has become established along the River Avon and is now found in Warwickshire as well. Although the range has extended, there is some concern that the numbers are declining in the original strongholds.

There is already a long established survey carried out at Bewdley on the River Severn, but there is a need to quantify the emergences on the Rivers Avon and Teme, and so isolate whether the apparent decline at Bewdley is representative in the County as a whole or not.

If you think you can help, the time required would be a visit to the same location every two days for about 4 weeks from early May to early June. What is entailed is the collection of the larval cases along a 50 metre stretch of river bank so a total emergence rate is built up.

If you can help and you live near Eckington or Knightsford please contact Mike Averill 01562 69144