Dragonfly Ireland

• Gathering Dragonfly & Damselfly records for a 2024 Atlas.
• Assessing Dragonflies & Damselflies as bio-indicators of water quality and climate change.
• Preparing an updated Red List of dragonflies and Damselflies.
• Training and supporting a network of dragonfly recorders in Ireland.
• Highlighting the issues of water quality and and climate change.

The project offers three levels of participation to the public. Dragonfly Spotter encourages the submission of casual sightings of any Dragonfly or Damselfly species via our online web form or the Biodiversity App. Dragonfly Recorder asks volunteers to conduct two timed surveys of a freshwater site, to record all dragonfly and damselfly species present and assess their habitat. Finally, Dragonfly Monitor asks volunteers to conduct a minimum of four surveys at their local site, and to repeat site surveys annually.

Dragonflies and damselflies are charismatic insects, easily recognised by their large size and dazzling body colours. This makes them a good target for biological recording. They spend most of their lives as aquatic nymphs, so their presence at freshwater sites can provide a useful indicator of water quality. Some species also have specific habitat and climate requirements which make them potential bio-indicators for habitat quality and climate change.

These links provide useful resources for survey planning and species identification.

If conducting site surveys, please do not enter onto private property without the landowners permission.