The MSP for Stirling has become Nature Champion for a rare species of dragonfly threatened by climate change and the extraction of peat for compost.
The Azure Hawker Dragonfly is a rare species which in the UK is only seen in Scotland and found in small numbers across the Highlands in shallow peatland pools.
Evelyn Tweed visited the Flanders Moss Nature Reserve to meet representatives from the British Dragonfly Society and Nature Scot who were keen to show Evelyn Tweed MSP a variety of wonderful dragonflies and damselflies that make Flanders Moss their home.
BDS Scottish Conservation Officer Daniele Muir said: “ It was a beautiful day for spotting dragonflies and introducing Evelyn to these wonderful insects. Although Evelyn’s species the Azure Hawker isn’t found at Flanders Moss, we managed to see Black Darters and Large Red Damselflies flying around, and even a pair of Common Hawkers mating!
“When we carried out some pond dipping, we also found some larvae of Four-spotted Chasers and Common Hawkers. Dragonflies spend most of their life underwater – sometimes up to five or six years! – and only live for a few weeks as the beautiful adults that we love to watch on sunny days.
“Many species of dragonfly that rely on peatlands for their home – such as the Azure Hawker and Northern Emerald – are threatened by climate change and the extraction of peat for compost and I look forward to working with Evelyn to secure a better future for these rare peatland dragonflies.”
Evelyn Tweed, SNP MSP for Stirling, said; “It was absolutely brilliant to meet the team at Flanders Moss and go dragonfly spotting in such beautiful surroundings. It’s a fantastic organisation helping to celebrate and protect such a wonderful species.
“Surveys over the past few years have shown that the Azure Hawker dragonfly is being severely impacted by climate change as erratic rainfall and higher temperatures have resulted in their habitat drying out. BDS are hoping to trial digging new, deeper pools of different sizes and shapes to see if they will take readily to the new habitat, and I look forward to supporting and championing all the work they do to protect dragonflies.”
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More Information about the Azure Hawker
