By Arnold Sciberras, Jeffrey Sciberras and Dennis Magro

Nature trust Malta

Dragonflies for most of us nature lovers represent the essence of beautiful Maltese spring and the always extending summer. Besides butterflies, dragonflies and the second most group of insects that fascinate people by their beautiful colors on the body and their phenomenal aerobatic skills in flight. Also the habit of flying in many different habitats over very long distances in warm weather makes them very conspicuous. More than this, these insects hold some of the largest species known to man, in fact the largest insect ever recorded was from a fossil dating more than 300 million years from France. The species of extinct dragonfly like species is Meganeura monyi had a wingspan of over 75cm (the size of that of a kestrel). Today the largest species of dragonfly Tetracanthagyna plagiata lives in Borneo with a wingspan of 14 cm. The largest Damselfly (very similar to the latter but stay with closed wings during rest while dragonflies stay with them open) is Megaloprepus coerulatus from South America with a wing span of 17cm.

Today around 5,500-5,700 species and much more subspecies of dragonflies and damselflies (collectively known as Odonata) are known to occur. While most of them live in the tropics, still around 160species occur in Europe and all of North Africa. The Maltese archipelago is a resident home for some species and also a bus stop for these insects. Since we are located approximately in the centre of the Mediterranean, sometimes we are lucky enough to receive new species to our island’s short list, that where migrating by. If the habitat holds the right requirements for the species to live in is present, then eventually the specimens that come may eventually settle and start a new a new population here.

The dragonfly list is on the increase. The first Maltese records were in 1899 by R.Mclachlan when he recorded the first 3 species. Anthony Valletta in 1949 recorded 6 species and in 1957 the same author recorded another 2. Since then little was written but no new further records. The last interesting write up was some useful observations were made for a dissertation by Godwin Degabriele in the early 1990’s.

The interest to write this article came up when during the period of… when we had a celebration of dragonfly species visiting our islands. From early morning one of us (D.Magro) observed hundreds of dragonflies known as Vagrant Emperor, Anax ephippiger flying inwards from Wied Babu Zurrieq. These continued spreading to many localities including Il-Maqluba where the latter author observed these beautiful insects in large quantities hunting for mosquitoes and other smaller insects than themselves. Many at the same time were hovering in the same direction facing the light breeze and swiftly darting down on the prey. Some other small observations were that each batch of insects contained approximately 12 insects. These were flying 1 male in front followed by 10 females and another male following the rest. The same spectacular scene was observed by the 2 other authors in Dwejra and at Ta’ Cenc Gozo in the evening were hundreds of these majestic insects were resting on trees and shrubs as the sun was about to set down. This species is known for its long distance migrations and every few years visit our islands. No records of it breeding here are present.

As it happens with butterflies, migrations with large numbers of insects often brings with it new species for our islands. With this migration we recorded the following interesting species, which are, Black-tailed Skimmer which is frequent in our islands, the Black Pennant Selysiothemis nigra was not recorded in our islands in 58 years since the single record in1949. We also recorded the Long Skimmer Orthetrum trinacria which is a new species for the Maltese islands. It was first recorded at Sarraflu Gozo in 2004 by one of us (A.Sciberras) and now it seems to have a stable population here and recently is spreading. Another interesting new species arriving with this migration was Violet Dropwing Trithemis annulata which the latter authors recorded it on other few occasions in Ghadira. Recently but not with this migration a specimen of Red Veined Dropwing Trithemis arteriosa was observed in Balzan which in addition is a new species. These records of the latter new species are being published in a foreign and local scientific journal. Also with this migration a number of Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope arrived and quickly joined with our few already present populations. As these migrations can be sometimes beneficial as a surplus to the present stock, not all flora and fauna that arrive are advantageous. If we take the Long Skimmer for example, since its arrival and the locations it is occupying, the other species of Odonata present seems to be decreasing either by food competition or predation itself on the latter species.

Not all species do come by natural migration. Sometimes human interference is involved and species deliberatry or unintentionally find themselves in the Maltese natural habitat and as said before if the environment is right for them. They may eventually adapt. A clear example maybe the recent discovery of a new butterfly species for Malta, the Geranium Bronze Cacyreus marshalli by Michael Muscat. It feeds exclusively on geranium plants species and could have been easily imported with a plant. All new species are in one way or another risk to local wildlife and in some cases they may take over the native species with devastating effects. One kind of pollution we must avoid if we love the environment is this.

Our dragonfly species has now reached 15 species. There is nothing more interesting than watching these beautiful insects in action and with a little trained eye, one can easily notice that a new species ,not listed for Malta may have come to visit us since we do not have a very long list. We are lucky to have such a beautiful archipelago surrounded by 2 large continents and when the latter 2 decide to swap some species we are in the middle to enjoy it. Let’s leave some space for them to live with as they have left us. They owned the planet just a little before us!

For more information regarding this subject contact us on [email protected] or visit the Insect Exhibition Museum,31,Parish Street Qrendi ZQR07 on Sunday mornings or book on 79004441.(c) of pictures A.sciberras)