Dragonflies and damselflies

Devon is a national stronghold for dragonflies and damselflies.

As climate changes new species, such as the rare norfolk hawker, are moving into the county.

Dig a pond! Many beautiful common species such as the broad-bodied chaser, southern hawker and large red damselfly will quickly colonise new ponds.

What we need to do and where
Vibrant and striking red dragonfly

Red-veined Darter, Dave Smallshire

A light blue scarce chaser on a thin branch

Scarce Chaser, Dave Smallshire

Brwon norfolk hawker dragonfly on a blade of grass

Norfolk Hawker, Dave Smallshire

1. About

Devon is one of the UK’s most species-rich counties for dragonflies and damselflies thanks to its warm, southerly location and diverse wetland habitats. These habitats vary from nutrient-rich lakes, ponds, rivers and canals in the lowlands to acidic bogs, streams and fast-flowing rivers on Dartmoor and Exmoor.

Dragonflies and damselflies (sometimes referred to collectively as dragonflies below) are members of the insect order called Odonata. Although they’re similar, there are easy ways to tell them apart. One is their wings: all four are identical in damselflies, whereas the front and hind wings differ in dragonflies. Dragonflies are also larger and stronger than damselflies. Both need:

Water: Dragonflies spend most of their life in or near freshwater. Adults lay eggs into aquatic vegetation, debris or water and the larvae (also known as nymphs) spend one to six years underwater before emerging as adults. They need clean, healthy waterbodies with emergent vegetation which the larvae climb up before they emerge as flying adults.

Food: Dragonflies are carnivorous and both nymphs and adults are skilled hunters feeding on whatever they can find. Nymphs feed on mosquito larvae, tadpoles, small fish and other insects. Adults are aerial predators and feed on other flying insects such as mosquitoes, midges and other flies, bees and even butterflies.

In Britain, 48 species breed, of which 30 breed in Devon. Thirteen are listed as Devon Species of Conservation Concern and four of these are listed as Devon Special Species. 

Devon Species of Conservation Concern

The hairy dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) reaches its south-western limit in Devon, with strong populations around the Exe marshes, Bovey Basin and Slapton. It has recently colonised new sites, such as the Grand Western Canal and Braunton Burrows. It flies from late April to mid-July.

The small red damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum) needs small, sunny, shallow pools on acidic heaths or bogs, where larvae develop in warm water. It’s poor at competing with other species and vulnerable to changes in rainfall and climate. It flies from June to early September and is found on Dartmoor and east Devon’s Pebblebed Heaths.

The downy emerald (Cordulia aenea) is scarce and very local, breeding in woodland ponds and lakes. In Devon, usually only a few territorial males are seen and there are few egg-laying records for the county. Adults often roam woodland. The only sites are in the Bovey Basin and at Bystock Ponds and Squabmoor reservoir on the Pebblebed Heaths.

The red-eyed damselfly (Erythromma najas) prefers canals, slow rivers and still waters with floating vegetation. It’s fairly common but very local, with strongholds in the Bovey Basin, lower Exe Valley and Grand Western Canal.

The white-legged damselfly (Platycnemis pennipes) is found on slow-flowing, vegetated lowland rivers and streams, where adults gather in tall bankside plants. It flies from late May to mid-August and has been recorded along rivers including the Axe, Clyst, Exe, Otter, Tamar, Taw, Torridge and Yeo.

The red-veined darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) is a mainly migratory species, increasingly seen in Britain with scattered breeding in warm, shallow, open waters. In Devon, it has bred at sites like Clennon Valley, Meeth and Soar in recent years.

The ruddy darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) prefers shallow, well-vegetated ponds, lakes, ditches and canals, tolerating acidic waters. More common in Dorset and Somerset, it’s always been scarce in Devon. Its current status here is not known but former breeding sites include Braunton Burrows, Offwell and Seaton Marshes.

Key pressures and opportunities

camera

Climate change

Changes in climate and weather patterns can affect water levels in wetlands, which can make it harder for dragonflies to reproduce and find food. However, hot summers will also bring new species to Devon and this may be why the range of the norfolk hawker has expanded here from East Anglia and why scarce chasers have recently colonised the county (see Devon Special Species below). There are also threats to upland species from climate change. Most notably, these include common hawker and black darter, although both of these have responded well to peatland restoration on Dartmoor and Exmoor.

camera

Water quality

Pesticides, perhaps most notably from flea treatments applied to dogs, and other pollutants can contaminate dragonfly habitats causing populations to decline or die out. There is currently a huge push to improve water quality which will in turn help our dragonfly populations.

camera

Habitat management

Many dragonflies are at risk due to poor management of wetland habitats and waterbodies. A lack of grazing, scrub clearance and desilting of ponds and ditches can result in a loss of open, vegetated wetland habitats. Existing habitats are often isolated and weaker flying species may be unable to reach new habitat.

camera

Invasive species

Species such as floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) can choke ditches and make them unsuitable for dragonflies. Eradication of this species on Exminster Marshes may have assisted the colonisation by scarce chasers (see Devon Special Species below).

camera

Habitat creation

Although many of Devon’s wetlands have been lost there are huge opportunities to create new wetlands and ponds in urban and rural areas across the county. Particular opportunities include the restoration of quarries (especially Lee Moor and Bovey Basin), peatland restoration on Dartmoor, agri-environment schemes, sustainable urban drainage schemes, green infrastructure schemes and everyone digging more ponds!

See Find out more below for more information on specific habitats.

2. What we need to do and where

Priority

Increase the abundance and distribution of dragonflies and damselflies across Devon, especially those listed as Devon Special Species.

See Find out more for links to more detailed information on this group including management advice and records.

Devon Special Species

Blue and black striped dragonfly balancing on a blade of grass

Southern damselfly

Coenagrion mercuriale
Read more

Habitat

The southern damselfly occurs in shallow, slow-moving, open heathland streams and channels in valley mires and rush pastures where water flows all year and is less acidic than would usually be expected in these habitats. These conditions are rare, making the species very vulnerable. The main threats to existing sites are lack of livestock grazing leading to scrub encroachment and changes to hydrological regimes leading to loss of water flows.

Population

In national and international terms this is the rarest dragonfly breeding in Devon. It is endangered and legally protected, as are the majority of the habitats where it occurs.

In Devon, southern damselflies are found at Aylesbeare Common on the Pebblebed Heaths but have probably been lost from Colaton Raleigh Common in recent years where they were last recorded in 2021; the site is well managed for southern damselflies and so the reasons for their decline are unknown. After the population at Venn Ottery Common died out in 1990 the UK’s first licensed dragonfly re-establishment took place in 2009 and it seems to have been successful to date.

The southern damselfly also occurs at a few sites fringing Dartmoor, including Prewley Moor, on Rhos pastures at Tor View Moor near Whiddon Down and on heathland and mire at Gidleigh Common. They were once found in the Blackdown Hill mires at Southey Moor and Hense Moor but were lost, presumably due to lack of grazing and scrub encroachment. A re-introduction took place in 2015 from the New Forest, but this was not successful.   

Actions

Maintain (through light grazing and scrub control where needed) and create a network of wet, open streams and channels on heaths and valley mires for the Southern Damselfly.

  • Maintain water quality and flow.
  • Maintain suitable grazing levels where possible. 
  • Expand existing sites where possible and create new sites to expand populations and reduce isolation.
  • Carry out re-introductions where appropriate – potential sites could include Collaven Moor (a new DWT reserve near Prewley Moor) and Hense Moor in the Blackdown Hills.
  • Continue to monitor the Devon population, including through supporting work undertaken by the British Dragonfly Society.
  • See Heath, bog, mire and species-rich rush pasture.

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas:

Heath, mire and rush-pasture mosaics: Pebblebed Heaths, East Devon Spring-line Mires, Dartmoor Rhos Pastures, heaths (existing), species-rich rush pasture (existing) .

Upland heath, bog and mire mosaics: Large Dartmoor Valley Mires (existing), Dartmoor flushes and mires (existing)

Also see the Dragonfly Sites mapped as Species Opportunity Areas. See Mapping.

Brwon norfolk hawker dragonfly on a blade of grass

Norfolk hawker

Aeshna isoceles
Read more

Habitat

The norfolk hawker prefers natural, unmanaged freshwater ditches and drainage channels and is often found in grazing marshes. It’s also found in well-vegetated lakes and ponds, often with a reedy fringe. They fly for mainly in June and July.

Population

In recent decades the norfolk hawker has expanded from its traditional East Anglian habitats across the southern Britain.  In 2022, it was recorded breeding at Slapton Ley in south Devon, and it may well occur in other parts of the county. It’s been recorded in Exminster Marshes and Lower Bruckland Nature Reserve near Seaton in east Devon. It’s protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).

Actions

Maintain healthy, vegetated and unpolluted ditches (particularly in grazing marshes), lakes and ponds for the norfolk hawker.

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: Slapton and Beesands Leys (Brixham to Start Point Coastal Wildbelt), Exminster Marshes (in the Sidmouth to Torbay Coastal Wildbelt) and Seaton Marshes (in the Dorset to Sidmouth Coastal Wildbelt). Also see the Dragonfly sites mapped as Species Opportunity Areas. See Mapping and use the Search function to find sites.

Delicate light blue damselfly resting on a blade of grass

Scarce blue-tailed damselfly

Ischnura pumilio
Read more

Habitat

The scarce blue-tailed damselfly is usually found in shallow wetland sites such as bog pools or slow-flowing water with sparse vegetation cover. It likes newly-created open habitats and sites where disturbance maintains open areas. It flies from June to August.

Population

The scarce blue-tailed damselfly is endangered and has a nationally important population in Devon. The working and former clay pits in the Bovey Basin, Lee Moor and Meeth-Petrockstowe area created perfect conditions, which were once strongholds for the species. It’s also found on livestock-trampled, muddy streams and ponds on Dartmoor moorland.

Actions

Graze existing and potential sites to maintain and create open pools and slow flowing water on moors, heathlands and in quarries, where possible. Control scrub where needed. 

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: Southwest Dartmoor (especially Lee Moor quarries) Bovey Basin (particularly quarries) and North Devon Culm (including quarries in the Meeth-Petrockstowe area). Actions can be guided by the Dragonfly sites mapped as Species Opportunity Areas. See Mapping.

A light blue scarce chaser on a thin branch

Scarce chaser

Libellula fulva
Read more

Habitat

The scarce chaser can be found in lowland, slower-flowing rivers, streams, ditches, canals and pools with good water quality and lush emergent vegetation.

Population

This species is a recent colonist to south Devon, first recorded breeding on the Grand Western Canal Local Nature Reserve in 2005. Other known breeding sites include habitats in the lower valleys of the Exe (including Exeter Canal and Exminster Marshes), Clyst and Axe (including Lower Bruckland Ponds- a private nature reserve), but it’s likely to be breeding in other areas. Ponds and lakes in the Bovey Basin (such as Stover and Decoy Lakes) have also been colonised very recently.

The first sign of the scarce chaser breeding around the head of the Exe Estuary was in 2007 from Exminster Marshes, where the Environment Agency’s eradication of the invasive alien floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) is likely to have created suitably open ditches.

Actions

Maintain healthy and unpolluted watercourses, ditches, lakes and ponds with both open water and emergent vegetation for the scarce chaser.

Control invasive aquatic plant species such as floating pennywort. Avoid wholesale clearance of emergent plants from ditches or ponds.

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas:

  • Freshwater: watercourses, lakes and ponds. Specific sites include the Clyst, Axe, Exeterand Grand Western Canals, Stover and Decoy Lakes.
  • Coast: Exminster and Braunton Marshes.
  • See Mapping and use search to find specific sites and see the Dragonfly Sites mapped as Species Opportunity Areas.

Actions for all dragonflies and damselflies

Dragonflies are found across Devon and will benefit from actions to manage and increase wetland habitats. See the Habitat pages. The key habitats are linked below. Anyone who is managing or creating habitat for rare and threatened dragonflies and damselflies should be aware of their needs. See the list of Devon Species of Conservation Concern and Find out more below.

Dragonfly sites of national and local importance have been mapped by the Devon group of the British Dragonfly Society and are shown on the LNRS Viewer as Species Opportunity Areas. See Mapping.

3. Inspiration

Case studies

Ockerton Court peatland restoration

The Ockerton Court peatland restoration on Dartmoor has transformed a degraded blanket bog into a thriving wetland, boosting biodiversity and climate resilience.

The project, part of the South West Peatland Partnership, re‑wetted damaged areas by blocking erosion gullies and drainage channels, allowing sphagnum moss and other bog plants to recolonise. At Ockerton Court, guided walks have shown how quickly restored sites blend into the moor: within just a year, bare peat was covered by mosses, invertebrates, and wetland birds such as teal. Dragonflies now swoop in large numbers, taking advantage of the new pools and wetter ground, while the habitat may support endangered species like curlew. Restoration here not only improves wildlife habitats but also locks away carbon, filters water, and helps defend communities against flooding.

Devon Dragonfly Group trip to see the restoration of pools on Dartmoor

Venn Ottery Common

Southern damselflies were successfully re-introduced to this Devon Wildlife Trust reserve in 2009 after changing the structure of a drainage channel into a network of braided, shallow runnels. (southern damsel management handbook.indd).

Blue and black striped dragonfly balancing on a blade of grass

Grand Western Canal

The Grand Western Canal in Mid Devon is a nationally important site for dragonflies, supporting over 20 species thanks to its rich aquatic and marginal habitats. Designated a Local Nature Reserve, the canal’s management allows summer vegetation to flourish along its banks, creating ideal conditions for breeding and feeding. It was the first confirmed breeding site in Devon for the scarce chaser (Libellula fulva), and ongoing monitoring by the British Dragonfly Society has highlighted its significance for species like the red-eyed damselfly, hairy dragonfly, and southern hawker. The canal exemplifies how low-intervention habitat management can transform a man-made waterway into a thriving corridor for biodiversity.

Where to visit

Always follow the Countryside Code and keep to footpaths and sites that are managed for public access. 

Good places to see dragonflies and damselflies include…

Aylesbeare Common RSPB Reserve
A peaceful heathland where butterflies and dragonflies are commonly seen over ponds and streams. 

Bystock Ponds DWT Reserve
An old reservoir and bog ponds set in woodland and heathland. For information on visiting these and other sites that are open to the public please see the Explore Devon website.

Braunton Burrows and Marsh
Hairy Dragonfly and possibly Ruddy Darter at ponds in the Burrows, Scarce Chaser in grazing marsh ditches.

Chudleigh Knighton Heath DWT Reserve
A good range of common species at small ponds with good visibility.

Decoy Country Park
Red-eyed Damselfly, Hairy Dragonfly, Downy Emerald and recently Scarce Chaser at both the main lake and Magazine Pond, although limited viewing opportunities.

Exeter Canal
Both red-eyed damselfly species, Hairy Dragonfly and Scarce Chaser along most of the length between Double Locks and Turf.

Grand Western Canal
Both red-eyed damselfly species, Hairy Dragonfly and Scarce Chaser, especially around Westleigh.

Little Bradley Ponds DWT Reserve
An excellent site to see Downy Emerald in spring among a good range of species at one of the best dragonfly sites in Devon.

Meeth DWT Reserve
A good range of species, including Small Red Damselfly at old ponds at the north-west edge of the site.

Prewley Moor, NW Dartmoor
An easily accessible Southern Damselfly site – look at the small streams running down towards the old railway line.

Slapton Ley NNR
Most notable for Norfolk Hawker, a recent colonist, and Hairy Dragonfly at the most south-westerly location in Britain. Slapton Bridge is a good place to see both of these species.

Stover Country Park
An excellent site for dragonflies, although currently most are found at water bodies surrounding the lake, which has recently been dredged. Both red-eyed damselflies, hairy dragonfly and recently scarce chaser.

For information on visiting these and other sites that are open to the public please see the Explore Devon website.

4. Find out more

An overview of Devon’s dragonflies, updated annually by the Devon group of the British Dragonfly Society – Dragonflies of Devon, 2024

British Dragonfly Society – British Dragonfly Society: Detailed information on species and records. Get involved in recording dragonflies in Devon. Contact details can be found on the County Dragonfly Recorders page.

Advice on digging a pond for dragonflies

Managing habitats for dragonflies

Records can be found on the NBN Atlas.

Dragonflies | Devon Wildlife Trust has information on dragonfly species.

The southern damselfly management handbook – a handbook giving more information about the southern damselfly.

Southern Damselfly – Nature Back from the Brink : naturebftb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Southern-Damselfly-BftB.pdf

Fantastic dragonflies and how to help them – Buglife Blog – Buglife

Guide to the Restoration, Creation and Management of Ponds (UCL/Freshwater habitats Trust)

Photo credits

All photos taken by Dave Smallshire

Devon Species of Conservation Concern list

All dragonflies and damselflies found on the Devon Species of Conservation Concern list:

  • Black darter, Sympetrum danae
  • Common hawker, Aeshna juncea
  • Downy emerald, Cordulia aenea
  • Hairy dragonfly, Brachytron pratense
  • Norfolk hawker, Aeshna isoceles
  • Red-eyed damselfly, Erythromma najas
  • Red-veined darter, Sympetrum fonscolombii
  • Ruddy darter, Sympetrum sanguineum
  • Scarce blue tailed damselfly, Ischnura pumilio
  • Scarce chaser, Libellula fulva
  • Small red damselfly, Ceriagrion tenellum
  • Southern damselfly, Coenagrion mercuriale
  • White-legged damselfly, Platycnemis pennipes

To see all Devon Species of Conservation Concern, please follow the link at the top of the species page.

Search this site:

clear