New, rare and vagrant damselflies and dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) in the Kaliningrad Oblast, north-western Russia

Abstract

The paper presents new remarkable records of selected rare and uncommon Odonata species found in the Kaliningrad Oblast based primarily on our surveys conducted since 2007. Two species, Erythromma viridulum (Charpentier, 1840) and Anax ephippiger (Burmeister, 1839) are new to the region. The total number of Odonata species currently known for the territory of the Kaliningrad Oblast amounted to 66. Among them, 61 species have been recorded on the Courish (Curonian) Spit of the Baltic Sea.

Acta Biologica Sibirica 8: 261–279 (2022)

doi: 10.14258/abs.v8.e17

http://journal.asu.ru

Corresponding author: Nazar A. Shapoval (nazaret@bk.ru)

Academic editor: R. Yakovlev | Received 25 July 2022 | Accepted 15 August 2022 | Published 2 September 2022

http://zoobank.org/62DA11B7-EAF9-457B-B797-A1BFE5FB72A7

Citation: Shapoval NA, Shapoval GN, Shapoval AP (2022) New, rare and vagrant damselflies and dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) in the Kaliningrad Oblast, north-western Russia. Acta Biologica Sibirica 8: 261–279. https://doi.org/10.14258/abs.v8.e17

Keywords

Baltic Sea, Courish (Curonian) Spit, damselflies, dragonflies, first records

Introduction

Until recently, the Odonata fauna of the Kaliningrad Oblast remained one of the less studied within Europe. The only checklists available, published by La Boeme and Le Roi dates back more than 100 years ago (La Boeme 1908; Le Roi 1911). The former survey, while dedicated to the fauna of West Prussia, also comprises data on 46 species revealed in East Prussia. Among them, 33 species are clearly indicated for the territory of the present–day Kaliningrad Oblast. The latter faunistic work reports 50 species found in East Prussia, 46 of them are accounted for the region in question. Both surveys were primarily based on comprehensive studies of Hermann Hagen (Hagen 1839, 1846, 1849, 1855) and altogether reported 52 species for West and East Prussia and 46 species directly for the Kaliningrad Oblast. At the end of 20th century, several published papers provide new insights into the Odonata fauna of the Kaliningrad Oblast. Lewandowski (1996) mentioned 28 species found during 5 weeks of observations carried out at Zehlau peat bog (Pravdinsky District). Bertram and Haacks (1999) reported 14 dragonflies species collected in nine days at the Rybachy ornithological station on the Courish Spit. Notwithstanding the reports of Lewandowski and Bertram and Haacks were based on very limited periods of investigations, these works added four species as new for the region, Aeshna subarctica Walker, 1908, Leucorrhinia albifrons (Burmeister, 1839) and Sympecma fusca (Vander Linden, 1820), and Anax parthenope (Selys, 1839), respectively. Unfortunately, some other recent publications on the Odonata of the Kaliningrad Oblast, e.g. related to larvae identification (Shibaeva et al. 2011), or long-term studies conducted by Tumilovich (2008, 2009a, 2009b) are doubtful in many aspects or objectively wrong (see for detailed explanations, Shapoval and Buczyński 2012), and therefore need to be critically revised. Thus, the number of reliable Odonata species reported for the Kaliningrad Oblast by the early 21st century amounted for 50.

Long-term studies of dragonfly fauna and migrations that we have conducted since 2007 resulted in new and remarkable records for the Kaliningrad Oblast itself and Baltic countries as a whole (Shapoval and Buczyński 2012; Buczyński et al. 2014) and rose the number of species known for the territory of the Kaliningrad Oblast to 64. Fifty seven of them were particularly found on Courish Spit (Shapoval and Shapoval 2017). The present study summarizes personal data and observations of Odonata gathered in 2007-2021 on the Courish Spit in the Baltic Sea and some other localities of the Kaliningrad Oblast, provides new insights into dragonfly fauna and adds two species, namely Erythromma viridulum (Charpentier, 1840) and Anax ephippiger (Burmeister, 1839), as new to the region in question.

Material and methods

Dragonflies were collected at the “Fringilla” ornithological station, a part of the “Rybachy” Biological Station (Zoological Institute, RAS), during faunistic studies on insects conducted in 2007-2021. The ornithological station is situated on the Courish Spit 12 km S of Rybachy village (55°05'17"N, 20°44'04"E). The Courish Spit is a narrow, extending from the south-west to the north-east peninsula (98 km in length and 0.7 to 3.5 km in width), separating Courish Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. The peninsula funneling the migrants that often avoid moving over open waters (Alerstam and Christie 1991; Becciu et al. 2019) along onshore between the lagoon and the sea. During spring, summer and autumn seasons, the ornithological station operates two funnel traps (so-called “Rybachy-type” traps) which open to the north and to the south and allow passive capture of migrating birds, bats and also insects, primarily lepidopterans and dragonflies (Shapoval et al. 2005; Shapoval and Shapoval 2006, 2007; Shapoval and Buczyński 2012; Buczyński et al. 2014). Detailed description of the traps was given previously by several authors (Payevsky 2000; Shapoval and Buczyński 2012; Shapoval and Shapoval 2017). Observations and registration of odonates in the ornithological traps were carried out daily in the following periods: 2007 (07.VII-29.X), 2008 (30.III-27.X), 2009 (30.III-26.X), 2010 (31.III-29.X), 2011 (31.III-25.X), 2012 (30.III-29.X), 2013 (03.IV-28.X), 2014 (01.IV-27.X), 2015 (01.IV-26.X), 2016 (01.IV-26.X), 2017 (01.IV-26.X), 2018 (03.IV-25.X), 2019 (01.IV-25.X), 2020 (01.IV-25.X), 2021 (01.IV-25.X). Besides the ornithological station, dragonflies and damselflies were recorded and collected in several other localities on the Courish Spit and the Kaliningrad Oblast.

Results

New species for the Kaliningrad Oblast

Erythromma viridulum (Charpentier, 1840)

We conducted special search for this species in 2017-2019, exploring water bodies of the Kaliningrad Oblast and vegetated shore of the Courish lagoon, with a focus on localities where E. najas (Hansemann, 1823), the species with which E. viridulum is known to co-occur, was previously reported. E. viridulum was finally found at a single site – small artificial pond with dense vegetation on the territory of the Rybachy Ornithological Station (Rybachy village, 55°09'12"N; 20°51'26"E), where it was abundant.

Material. 22♂♂15♀♀, Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, Rybachy vill. (55°09'12"N; 20°51'26"E), 23.VII.2019. N.A. Shapoval, A.P. Shapoval, G.N. Shapoval leg.

Anax ephippiger (Burmeister, 1839)

The species is considered rare and vagrant in Eastern Europe. In Poland, it is known since at least 1992 (Bernard et al. 2009). The data on massive invasions of A. ephippiger in 1995 and 2019 significantly increased the number of reported localities in Poland and confirmed successful breeding of this species in the region (Buczyński et al. 2020). Recorded from Latvia (Rintelen 1997) at the Pape ornithological station (four specimens collected on 12-13.IX.1995). This observation remains yet the sole record of A. ephippiger from Latvia and is considered somewhat doubtful. Firstly, at that time the species had never been observed in adjacent Baltic countries. Secondly, late collection dates (mid-September) assume that reported specimens indeed belong to the second generation, whereas the first generation (migrants) usually appears in Central and Eastern Europe in June. At that time, successful reproduction of A. ephippiger was not reported in the region. These facts suggested possible misidentification of dried specimens collected in Pape with somewhat morphologically similar species, Anax parthenope (Selys, 1839). However, the first evidences of A. ephippiger in Lithuania (two specimens observed on 23.VIII.2019 and 16.X.2019, certainly belonging to the second generation (Gliwa et al. 2019)), as well as numerous autumn records and observations of mating couples, egg-laying females, teneral individuals in Poland (Buczyński et al. 2018, 2020) give support of finding A. ephippiger in September 1995 at Pape (Latvia). In the Kaliningrad Oblast, A. ephip piger was found for the first time in June 2019. These records coincide well with data on enormous migration of the species in Europe in 2019 (Michalczuk et al. 2020).

Material. Three specimens have been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) in the ornithological traps. 1♂, (trap faced north), 06.VI.2019; 1♂, (trap faced north), 11.VI.2019; 1♂, (trap faced south), 13.VI.2019.

New species for the Courish Spit

In addition to E. viridulum and A. ephippiger registered as new for the Courish Spit and Kaliningrad Oblast as a whole, the following two species were found on the Courish Spit for the first time:

Coenagrion hastulatum (Charpentier, 1825)

During extensive exploring of water bodies of the Courish Spit conducted in 2017- 2019, a single specimen of C. hastulatum was found in a vicinity of Rybachy village.

Material. 1♂, Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, vicinity of Rybachy vill. (55°08'51"N; 20°49'07"E), 16.V.2018. N.A. Shapoval, A.P. Shapoval, G.N. Shapoval leg.

Ennalagma cyathigerum (Charpentier, 1840)

The species was found at the peat bog in the SW part of the Courish Spit in a vicinity of Zelenogradsk town. Not rare at the Zehlau peat bog in the Pravdinsky District.

Material. 2♀♀, Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, vicinity of Zelenogradsk town (54°57'59"N; 20°31'00"E), 12.V.2018. N.A. Shapoval, A.P. Shapoval, G.N. Shapoval leg. 4♂♂3♀♀, Kaliningrad Oblast, Pravdinsky District, Zehlau peat bog (54°33'32"N; 20°52'56"E), 14.V.2018, N.A. Shapoval, A.P. Shapoval, G.N. Shapoval leg.

Rare species for the Kaliningrad Oblast and Courish Spit

Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798)

Pantala flavescens is a circumtropically distributed species, that undertakes annual multigenerational long-distance migrations, having one of the longest (up to 6 000 km) migration flight within insects in a single generation. Nevertheless, the number of records of the species in Europe is surprisingly small, being mostly concentrated in southern countries. Our finding of P. flavescenss pecimen in 2013 on the Courish Spit of the Baltic Sea (Kaliningrad Oblast) was the first evidence for Central and Eastern Europe, being also the northernmost record of the species in the Palearctic (Shapoval and Buczyński 2014). Over the last few years, the number of records from Central and Eastern Europe increased significantly; in 2016 the species has been recorded for the first time from Poland (Buczyński 2019), in 2019 it has been observed for the first time in Germany (Günther 2019a) and Lithuania (Gliwa et al. 2019). Moreover, recent findings evidenced for successful reproduction of P. flavescens in Central Europe (Günther 2019b; Buczyński et al. 2020).

In addition to observation made in 2013, two females of P. flavescens have been recorded on the Courish Spit (Kaliningrad Oblast) in early June and mid-August 2019 (Fig. 1). The latter observation is of real importance considering that this specimen clearly referred to the second (native) generation. Our findings allowed to speculate on possible origin of individuals observed in Eastern Europe and possible migration strategies and routes in the western Palearctic.

Material. In total, three specimens have been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) by A.P. Shapoval in the ornithological trap, faced south. 1♂, 29.V.2013; 1♀, 06.VI.2019; 1♀, 18.VIII.2019.

Figure 1.A female of Pantala flavescens at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Courish Spit), 18.VIII.2019, photo A. Shapoval.

Lestes barbarus (Fabricius, 1798)

The northern distribution limits of the species reach northern Poland and Kaliningrad Oblast (Bernard et al. 2009; Kalniņš 2011). L. barbarus is referred as a pronounced migrant that could spread and occupy broad territories forming permanent colonies in favorable years (Dijkstra 2006). The species has not been recorded from Latvia however mentioned as expected species for this country (Spuris 1993; Kalniņš 2011, 2012). Not annually recorded on the Courish Spit in the ornithological traps. It has been observed only in 2010, 2017 and 2021.

Material. In total, 14 specimens have been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) in the ornithological traps. 1♂, 17.VII.2010; 1♂, 23.VII.2010; 3♂♂2♀♀, 31.VII.2010; 1♂3♀♀, 16.VIII.2010; 1♂, 17.VIII.2010; 1♂, 04.VIII.2017; 1♀, 13.07.2021.

Chalcolestes viridis (Vander Linden, 1825)

The species actively dispersed northwards in the last decades, colonizing new territories (Bernard et al. 2009; Cham et al. 2014; Gliwa and Švitra 2016). It has been recently reported for Latvia (Kalniņš 2017) for the first time. Regularly, but in small numbers recorded in mid-August - September in ornithological traps on the Courish Spit. During extensive exploring of water bodies of the Courish Spit conducted in 2017-2019, a single population of L. viridis was found in a vicinity of Rybachy village.

Material. 1♂, 09.IX.2009; 1♂, 17.VIII.2013; 2♂♂1♀, 05.IX.2014; 1♂, 27.VIII.2016; 1♂, 09.IX.2021; 2♂♂2♀♀, 11.IX.2021. “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) A.P. Shapoval leg. 3♂♂, Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, Rybachy vill. (55°08'58"N; 20°51'07"E), 23.VII.2019. N.A. Shapoval, A.P. Shapoval, G.N. Shapoval leg.

Sympecma fusca (Vander Linden, 1820)

The species has been reported for the first time for Lithuania by Ivinskis and Rimšaitė (2010), without providing any details on this finding. Occurrence of S. fusca in Lithuania has been confirmed by Gliwa in 2016 (Gliwa et al. 2016). Not found in Latvia. Single specimen has been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station on the Courish Spit in the ornithological trap.

Material. 1♀, 24.VIII.2011, “Fringilla” ornithological station, Courish Spit (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk distrtict, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E), A.P. Shapoval leg.

Aeshna affinis (Vander Linden, 1820)

Recent surveys evidenced for the extensive dispersal of the species to the north starting in the 1990’s (Bernard 2005; Bernard et al. 2009). A. affinis has been registered for the first time for Lithuania in 2003 (Bernard 2005). Reported for Latvia at the Pape ornithological station in 2016, while the first documented observation (photo) dates back to 2014 (Kalniņš 2017). The species was found in the Kaliningrad Oblast for the first time on the Courish Spit in 2007. Since 2010, annually recorded in the ornithological traps at the “Fringilla” Station.

Material. In total, 138 specimens have been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) in the ornithological traps. 1♂, 09.VIII.2007; 1♀, 10.VII.2010; 1♂1♀, 12.VII.2010; 1♀, 13.VII.2010; 2♂♂2♀♀, 22.VII.2010; 1♀, 01.VIII.2010; 1♂, 19.VII.2011; 1♀, 30.VII.2011; 1♀, 29.VII.2012; 1♂, 06.VIII.2012; 1♂, 13.VIII.2012; 1♂, 03.VII.2013; 1♂, 04.VII.2013; 2♀♀, 31.VII.2013; 1♀, 08.VIII.2013; 2♂♂, 28.VII.2014; 1♂, 30.VII.2014; 1♂, 20.VIII.2015; 1♀, 28.VI.2016; 1♂, 09.VIII.2017; 1♂, 09.IX.2017; 1♀, 10.IX.2017; 1♂, 11.IX.2017; 2♂♂, 12.IX.2017; 1♂1♀, 16.IX.2017; 1♂, 20.IX.2017; 1♂, 28.IX.2017; 2♂♂, 30.VII.2018; 1♂, 31.VII.2018; 4♂♂8♀♀, 31.VII.2018; 12♂♂9♀♀, 01.VIII.2018; 1♂, 02.VIII.2018; 2♀♀, 08.VII.2018, 3♀♀, 09.VIII.2018; 1♂, 23.VIII.2018; 1♀, 30.VI.2019; 1♂1♀, 24.VII.2019; 1♂1♀, 29.VII.2019; 1♀, 16.VIII.2019; 2♂♂, 18.VIII.2019; 1♀, 09.IX.2019; 1♀, 25.VI.2020; 1♀, 04.VII.2020; 3♂♂1♀, 26.VII.2020; 1♀, 06.VIII.2020; 1♀, 07.VIII.2020; 1♀, 09.VIII.2020; 1♀, 13.VIII.2020; 2♂♂, 17.VIII.2020; 1♂1♀, 19.VIII.2020; 1♀, 30.VIII.2020; 1♂, 01.IX.2020; 1♂1♀, 12.VII.2021; 2♂♂3♀♀, 13.07.2021; 3♂♂2♀♀, 14.VII.2021; 2♀♀, 15.VII.2021; 1♀, 16.VIII.2021; 1♂1♀, 23.VII.2021; 1♂1♀, 25.VII.2021; 4♂♂3♀♀, 26.VII.2021; 2♂♂2♀♀, 27.VII.2021; 2♂♂1♀, 05.VIII.2021; 1♂, 10.VIII.2021; 1♀, 16.VIII.2021.

Anax parthenope (Selys, 1839)

Since beginning of the 1990’s, a pronounced expansion of the species northward has been recorded (Dijkstra 2006). A. parthenope has been registered for the first time for Latvia in 2008 (Kalniņš 2009). Regularly, but in small numbers, recorded in ornithological traps on the Courish Spit. The flight period of the species in the northern part of its distribution range lasts from June until August. Unusually late occurrence of A. parthenope on the Courish Spit (on 27th of September) has been recorded in 2021.

Material. In total, 102 specimens have been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) in the ornithological traps. 1♂, 05.VIII.2007; 1♂1♀, 06.VIII.2007; 1♀, 12.VIII.2007; 1♂, 30.VI.2009; 1♀, 11.VII.2010; 1♀, 17.VII.2010; 1♂, 18.VII.2010; 2♀♀, 22.VII.2010; 1♀, 16.VIII.2010; 1♂, 11.IX.2010; 1♀, 31.V.2011; 1♂, 05.VI.2011; 1♂, 05.VII.2011;2♂♂1♀, 06.VI.2011; 1♀, 07.VI.2011; 1♂1♀, 17.VII.2011; 1♂, 19.VII.2011; 1♂1♀, 22.VII.2011; 2♂♂2♀♀, 24.VII.2011; 1♂, 29.VII.2011; 2♀♀, 04.VIII.2011; 1♀, 08.VIII.2011; 1♀, 25.VIII.2011; 1♂, 15.VI.2012; 1♂1♀, 06.VII.2012; 1♂, 21.VII.2012; 1♂, 03.VI.2013; 1♀, 10.VI.2013; 1♂, 06.VII.2013; 1♂, 16.VII.2013; 1♀, 29.VII.2013; 1♂, 24.V.2014; 1♀, 07.VI.2014; 1♂, 20.VII.2014; 1♂, 21.VII.2014; 1♂, 24.VII.2014; 2♀♀, 26.VII.2014; 2♀♀, 03.VIII.2014; 2♂♂, 05.VIII.2015; 1♂, 18.VIII.2015; 1♂, 20.VIII.2015; 1♂, 18.VII.2016; 1♂, 09.VI.2017; 1♀, 26.VII.2017; 2♂♂, 09.VIII.2017; 1♂, 10.VIII.2017; 1♀, 27.V.2018; 2♀♀, 29.V.2018; 1♀, 01.VI.1018; 2♂♂1♀, 10.VI.2018; 1♂, 12.VII.2018; 1♂, 31.VII.2018; 1♀, 01.VIII.2018; 1♂, 12.VI.2019; 1♂, 14.VI.2019; 1♂1♀, 17.VI.2019; 1♂, 25.VI.2019; 1♀, 26.VI.2019; 1♂, 21.VII.2019; 1♂, 23.VIII.2019; 1♂, 29.VIII.2019; 2♀♀, 16.VII.2020; 1♂, 26.VII.2020; 1♀, 07.VIII.2020; 1♂, 22.VI.2021; 1♂, 09.VII.2021; 1♂1♀, 10.VII.2021; 1♂, 13.VII.2021; 1♀, 14.VII.2021; 1♂1♀, 14.VII.2021; 1♀, 16.VII.2021; 2♂♂1♀, 26.VII.2021; 1♀, 27.VII.2021; 1♀, 12.VIII.2021; 1♀, 29.VIII.2021; 1♀, 08.IX.2021; 1♂1♀, 27.IX.2021.

Orthetrum albistylum (Selys, 1848)

Although not being a pronounced migrant, the species expands its distribution range northward rapidly (Bernard et al. 2009; Gliwa 2016). It has been observed for the first time in the Kaliningrad Oblast in 2011 (Shapoval, Buczyński 2012) and Lithuania in 2013 (Gliwa 2013). Since first occurrence in 2011 regularly reported in the ornithological traps on the Courish Spit. Unexpectedly late occurrence of O. albistylum on the Courish Spit (on 27th of September) has been recorded in 2020.

Material. In total, 79 specimens have been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) in the ornithological traps. 1♀, 05.VIII.2011; 1♂, 01.VII.2012; 1♂, 14.VI.2013; 1♂, 15.VI.2013; 1♀, 20.VI.2013; 1♂3♀♀, 21.VI.2013; 2♀♀, 04.VII.2013; 1♀, 09.VII.2014; 1♀, 24.VII.2014; 1♀, 28.VII.2014; 1♀, 05.VIII.2014; 1♂, 27.VI.2016; 1♀, 02.VII.2016; 1♂, 16.VII.2016; 1♂, 19.VII.2016; 3♂♂, 28.VI.2017; 1♀, 29.VI.2017; 2♂♂, 06.VII.2017; 1♀, 20.VII.2017; 1♂2♀♀, 22.VII.2017; 1♂, 05.VII.2017; 1♂, 02.VIII.2017; 1♀, 16.VIII.2017; 1♂, 21.VI.2018; 1♂, 26.VI.2018; 1♀, 07.VI.2019; 1♂, 08.VI.2019; 2♂♂, 11.VI.2019; 2♂♂, 12.VI.2019; 1♀, 20.VI.2019; 1♂, 20.VI.2019; ♂, 23.VI.2019; 1♀, 24.VI.2019; 1♀, 01.VII.2019; 1♂, 28.VII.2019; 1♀, 29.VII.2019; 2♂♂1♀, 28.VI.2020; 1♀, 05.VII.2020; 1♂, 16.VII.2020; 2♀♀, 20.VII.2020; 1♀, 27.IX.2020; 1♂1♀, 18.VI.2021; 1♂1♀, 20.VI.2021; 1♂2♀♀, 21.VI.2021; 1♂, 22.VI.2021; 1♀, 25.VI.2021; 2♂♂, 01.VII.2021; 1♂2♀♀, 03.VII.2021; 1♂, 04.VII.2021; 1♀, 06.VII.2021; 1♀, 07.VII.2021; 1♂, 08.VII.2021; 1♀, 11.VII.2021; 1♂, 13.VII.2021; 1♀, 26.VII.2021; 1♂, 27.VII.2021; 1♂, 28.VII.2021; 1♂, 29.VII.2021.

Orthetrum brunneum (Fonscolombe, 1837)

An expansion of O .brunneum to the north has been recently reported (Bernard and Ivinskis 2004; Bernard et al. 2009). The species has been observed for the first time in Lithuania in 2000 (Bernard and Ivinskis 2004; Gliwa et al. 2019) and in Latvia in 2005 (Kalniņš 2007). In the Kaliningrad Oblast, first occurrence of O. brunneum dates back to 2007. Since 2014 annually reported in the ornithological traps on the Courish Spit.

Material. In total, 84 specimens have been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) in the ornithological traps. 1♀, 11.VIII.2007; 1♀, 16.VIII.2007; 1♂, 26.VII.2008; 1♂, 30.VI.2011; 1♀, 24.VII.2011; 1♂, 26.VII.2011; 1♀, 01.VIII.2011; 1♀, 02.VIII.2011; 1♀, 03.VIII.2011; 1♀, 07.VIII.2011; 1♀, 08.VIII.2011; 1♀, 09.VIII.2011; 1♀, 09.VII.2014; 1♀, 10.VII.2014; 2♀♀, 14.VII.2014; 1♂, 19.VII.2014; 1♀, 23.VII.2014; 1♂, 24.VII.2014; 1♀, 25.VII.2014; 2♀♀, 27.VII.2014; 2♀♀, 28.VII.2014; 1♂, 29.VII.2014; 1♂, 30.VII.2014; 1♀, 04.VIII.2014; 1♂, 07.VIII.2014; 1♀, 27.VII.2015; 1♂, 01.VIII.2015; 1♀, 19.VI.2016; 2♀♀, 13.VIII.2017; 1♀, 16.VIII.2017; 1♂, 02.VI.2018; 1♀, 04.VI.2018; 1♀, 07.VI.2018; 1♀, 09.VI.2018; 1♀, 18.VII.2018; 1♂3♀♀, 12.VI.2019; 3♀♀, 13.VI.2019; 1♀, 14.VI.2019; 1♂1♀, 15.VI.2019; 1♂, 17.VI.2019; 1♂3♀♀, 26.VI.2019; 1♂, 28.VI.2019; 1♀, 28.VII.2019; 3♀♀, 29.VII.2019; 1♀, 05.VIII.2019; 1♀, 20.VIII.2019; 1♀, 21.VI.2020; 1♂1♀, 28.VI.2020; 3♀♀, 29.VI.2020; 2♂♂1♀, 29.VI.2020; 2♀♀, 02.VII.2020; 1♂1♀, 28.VII.2020; 1♀, 23,VIII.2020; 1♀, 19.VI.2021; 1♂1♀, 20.VI.2021; 2♀♀, 22.VI.2021; 1♀, 23.VI.2021; 1♀, 26.VI.2021; 1♀, 16.VII.2021; 1♀, 29.VII.2021.

Orthetrum coerulescens (Fabricius, 1798)

Very rare and locally distributed species in the region. Several records are known for eastern Lithuania (Stanionyte, 1991; Gliwa et al. 2019). O. coerulescens has not been reported for Latvia yet, while occurrence of the species in this country is expected. Rarely observed in the ornithological traps on the Courish Spit.

Material. In total, 7 specimens have been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) in the ornithological traps. 1♀, 18.VII.2011; 1♂, 23.VI.2013; 1♂, 02.VIII.2013; 1♂1♀, 28.VII.2014; 1♀, 20.VI.2018; 1♀, 26.VI.2020.

Crocothemis erythraea (Brulle, 1832)

Not being a pronounced migrant, this Mediterranean species tends to disperse gradually to the north (Ott 2001). The species has been observed once in Lithuania (Rackauskaite Gliwa 2015; Gliwa 2019) and has not yet been recorded for Latvia (Kalniņš 2017). The first evidence of C. erythraea in the Kaliningrad Oblast dates back to 2008 (two individuals). The second observation has been made 9 years later, in 2017. Since 2017, annually occurs in the ornithological traps on the Courish Spit.

Material. In total, 12 specimens have been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) in the ornithological traps. 1♂, 05.VII.2008; 1♀, 12.VII.2008; 1♂, 16.VIII.2017; 1♂, 20.IX.2018; 1♀, 21.VI.2019; 1♂, 26.VI.2020; 1♂, 17.VII.2020; 1♀, 20.VII.2020; 1♂, 20.VI.2021; 2♀♀, 30.VI.2021; 1♂, 14.VII.2021.

Sympetrum fonscolombii (Selys, 1840)

Rare migrant species for the region. First reliable observations of S. fonscolombii for Latvia and Lithuania date from 2009 (Kalniņš 2011, 2017) and 2015 (Gliwa 2016, 2019), respectively. The species has been recorded in the Kaliningrad Oblast for the first time in 2007. Not annually recorded on the Courish Spit in the ornithological traps. It has been observed only in 2007, 2010, 2015, and 2017.

Material. In total, 11 specimens have been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) in the ornithological traps. 1♀, 20.VIII.2007; 1♂, 30.IX.2007; 1♂, 24.VII.2010; 1♂, 05.VI.2015; 1♂1♀, 06.VI.2015; 1♂, 08.VI.2015; 1♀, 16.VIII.2015; 1♀, 20.VIII.2015; 1♀, 25.IX.2017; 1♀, 28.IX.2017.

Sympetrum meridionale (Selys, 1841)

The northern limits of the distribution range of the species reach southern Poland (Dijkstra 2006). Although the species is not considering as pronounced migrant, vagrant specimens sporadically may occur far away from the main distribution range. The species has been observed several times in Lithuania (Jusys, Gliwa 2017; Gliwa 2019) and has not yet been recorded for Latvia (Kalniņš 2017). The species has been recorded in the Kaliningrad Oblast for the first time in 2010. Not annually recorded on the Courish Spit in the ornithological traps. It has been observed in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Material. In total, 15 specimens have been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) in the ornithological traps. 1♀, 22.VII.2010; 1♂, 08.VIII.2010; 1♀, 11.VIII.2013; 1♀, 16.VIII.2013; 3♂♂, 18.VIII.2013; 1♂1♀, 19.VIII.2013; 1♀, 21.VIII.2013; 1♂, 05.VIII.2014; 1♂, 06.VIII.2014; 2♂♂, 02.VIII.2015; 1♂, 27.VIII.2016.

Sympetrum pedemontanum (Müller in Allioni, 1766)

Relatively rare species for the region. It is known for Latvia since 2001 (Kalniņš 2002); in Lithuania, the distribution of S. pedemontanum mainly restricted to eastern and southern parts of the country. Not annually recorded on the Courish Spit in the ornithological traps. It has been observed in 2007, 2010-2014, 2017, and 2020.

Material. In total, 28 specimens have been recorded at the “Fringilla” field station (Kaliningrad Oblast, Zelenogradsk District, Courish Spit, 55°05'17"N; 20°44'04"E) in the ornithological traps. 1♂, 12.VIII.2007; 2♂♂2♀♀, 22.VII.2010; 1♂, 04.VIII.2010; 1♀, 13.VIII.2010; 1♂, 24.IX.2010; 1♂, 25.IX.2010; 1♀, 05.VIII.2011; 1♂, 06.VIII.2011; 1♂1♀, 07.VIII.2011; 3♂♂, 08.VIII.2011; 1♀, 27.VIII.2011; 2♀♀, 17.IX.2012; 1♂, 28.VIII.2013; 1♀, 02.VIII.2013; 1♀, 07.VIII.2013; 1♀, 21.VIII.2013; 1♂, 28.VII.2014; 1♂1♀, 03.VIII.2014; 1♂, 24.IX.2017; 1♂, 24.VIII.2020.

Discussion

The territory of the Kaliningrad Oblast is significantly smaller (~ 15 100 km2) than the territories of neighboring Latvia (~ 64 600 km2), Lithuania (~ 65 300 km2), and especially Poland (~ 312 700 km2), bearing less number of habitats suitable for dragonflies and damselflies. Nevertheless, the number of species currently found in the Kaliningrad Oblast (66) is comparable to those, found in Latvia (63) and Lithuania (69), but expectedly fewer than in Poland (74), where elements of mountainous and Mediterranean fauna can be found (Table 1).

62 species out of 66 found for the Kaliningrad Oblast were observed by us during surveys conducted in 2007-2021, while four species, namely Coenagrion lunulatum, Coenagrion armatum, Nehalennia speciosa, and Cordulegaster boltonii, are known for the region only by historical records (Le Roi 1911). It should be noted that in 21th century, 16, 12 and 9 Odonata species have been recorded as new for the territories of Kaliningrad Oblast, Lithuania and Latvia, respectively (Table 2), while only one species (Pantala flavescens) was added as new for Poland in 2019 (Buczyński et al. 2019). Lestes macrostigma, included in the checklist of Polish Odonata in 2005 (Dolny 2005), originated from old museum collection and cannot be treated as a recent observation.

The references are as follows: 1-Shapoval and Buczyński 2012, 2-Shapoval and Shapoval 2017, 3-Buczyński et al. 2014, 4-Briliūtė and Budrys 2007, 5-Ivinskis and Rimšaitė 2010, 6-Gliwa and Stukonis 2011, 7-Bernard 2005, 8-Bernard 2003, 9-Jusys et al. 2019, 10-Gliwa 2013, 11-Gliwa et al. 2019, 12-Gliwa et al. 2016, 13-Jusys and Gliwa 2017, 14-Račkauskaitė and Gliwa 2015, 15-Kalniņš 2017, 16-Bernard 2003, 17-Kalniņš 2009, 18-Kalniņš 2007, 19-Kalniņš 2002, 20-Kalniņš 2011.

(*) – Lestes barbarus is mentioned by Prüffer for Lithuania (Prüffer 1952), but this record was not included in the Odonata checklist of the Lithuanian fauna.

(**) – Sympetrum fonscolombii has been reported for Latvia in 1938 (Bērziņš 1938), but the species was subsequently excluded from Latvian fauna (Spuris 1993, 1996). The second observation made in 1997 (Matthes and Matthes 1997) is considered somewhat doubtful by the authors, while the only one collected specimen escaped prior proper identification. Thus, the reliable record of S. fonscolombii for Latvia dates back to 2009.

Discovering a number of new species for the regions in question can hardly be explained by poor study of these areas, but rather evidences for changes in distribution of southern species and their expansion to the north and recent colonization of new territories. Being an effective and useful tool for studies on both mass dragonfly migrations and species involved in individual migrations or movements, the constantly operating ornithological traps allow detecting of such expansions and fluctuations in distribution range of certain species. Thus, since the beginning of our survey in 2007, more than 300 000 dragonfly specimens have been recorded in the ornithological traps, including multiple observations on rare migratory and vagrant species. The data obtained clearly indicate that at least some southern species (e.g. Crocothemis erythraea, Aeshna affinis, Orthetrum brunneum, Orthetrum albistylum) started to occur more regularly and at a higher frequency in last decade (Fig. 2).

Figure 2.Annual records of some rare and vagrant species in ornithological traps in 2007- 2021.

Conclusion

The present study adds two species, namely Erythromma viridulum and Anax ephippiger, as new to the Kaliningrad Oblast. The total number of Odonata species currently known for the region in question amounted to 66 and, thus, almost reached the possible maximum. Besides present-day confirmation of four species (Coenagrion lunulatum, Coenagrion armatum, Nehalennia speciosa, Cordulegaster boltonii), which are known for the region only by historical records, only occurrence of Sympetrum depressiusculum on the territory of the Kaliningrad Oblast is highly expected. To some extent, Coenagrion johanssoni and Aeshna crenata can be considered as potential species, but the closest known populations of these species have been found in eastern Lithuania, ca. 200 km away from the territory of the Kaliningrad Oblast.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Prof. Valentina Kuznetsova and Dr. Anatoly Krupitsky for valuable comments and suggestions. The financial support for this study was provided by the state research projects No. 122031100272-3 and No. 122031100261-7.

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