Highland sites revealed as secret dragonfly havens
A SURVEY of two Highland conservation areas has revealed they are secret havens for dragonflies and damselflies.
The Glen Affric and Loch Bran sites, both of which are managed by Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage, are among the top four sites in the Highlands for dragonflies.
Giles Brockman, environment manager with Forestry Commission Scotland’s Inverness, Ross and Skye team, said: "Last summer’s survey has revealed these sites as top spots for these beautiful, colourful insects. The survey found 12 species – with evidence that 10 of them are breeding – but we know that as many as 15 species are here, so they’ve obviously benefited from the good weather we had last year.
"Getting the conditions right for dragonflies and damselflies is a big part of the work that drives our environment programme in the area. With the helpful input of site condition monitoring to checks carried out by Scottish Natural Heritage, we do what we can to give these amazing insects a boost. Our work – and the great summer weather we had last year – seems to be exactly what the dragonflies need!"
Jonathan Willet, SNH surveyor, said: "Glen Affric was a superb area to survey for the variety of species found there, it is certainly one for the best sites to see dragonflies in the Highlands. Just about all of them can be seen from the footpath round Coire Loch, a popular circular walk in the nature reserve.
"Loch Bran near Foyers is another fantastic site. It doesn’t have the same variety of species as Glen Affric but it is the most reliable site in the Highlands to see the Brilliant Emerald Dragonfly. If you see this dragonfly with the sun illuminating its metallic green body, you will not forget it in a hurry."
The British Dragonfly Society’s maintains a red list of endangered species and of the four classed as vulnerable, three are known to exist in Affric.
