Abstract

From 6-9 July 2023, the participants of the 19th Symposium of the Odonatological Section of the Polish Entomological Society carried out fieldwork on the dragonflies in and around the Suwałki Landscape Park (SPK) (NE Poland). The symposium was preceded by a field reconnaissance (8-10 June). The results of this fieldwork, which yielded 45 species at 22 sites, are presented and discussed. Three species new to the SPK were found: Aeshna affinis, Orthetrum albistylum and Leucorrhinia dubia, along with five legally protected species: Cordulegaster boltonii, Somatochlora arctica, Leucorrhinia albifrons, L. caudalis and L. pectoralis. The most interesting species from the environmental conservation, faunistic and zoogeographic perspectives are Cordulegaster boltonii and the five Leucorrhinia species. Especially valuable is the finding of a reproduction site of C. boltonii in the Czarna Hańcza River, which indicates that this site is in good ecological condition. The new records raise the total number of dragonfly species ever recorded in the SPK to 56 (75.7% of the Polish fauna). Characterised by highly diverse habitats, the SPK is the oldest landscape park in the country. In terms of dragonfly species richness and diversity, it is ecologically very valuable. Nevertheless, since the available data have almost certainlybeen underestimated, further wide-ranging studies are needed for a better understanding of odonate distributions and to render conservation strategies for these insects more effective.

Authors (25)