Andrea Battisti

• Biodiversity Journal, 8 (2): 763-768

  Andrea Battisti & Maurizio Pavesi
  First records of breeding Sympecma paedisca (Brauer, 1877) (Odonata Lestidae) in Italy

  ABSTRACT
  Oviposition in Italian populations of Sympecma paedisca (Brauer, 1877) (Odonata Lestidae) was observed for the first time. This species is listed as Endangered (EN) in the Mediterranean Basin and as Critically Endangered (CR) in Italy. Several ovipositing tandems were observed for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, from the 17th of May to the 10th of June, in the “Riserva Naturale Orientata della Baraggia di Candelo” (=Heathlands Oriented Natural Reserve) (North Piedmont), a protected area and a military zone too, in a pond at the edge of the heathland. Oviposition substrates are vertical living Juncus effusus L. stems, preferably the isolated ones or those on the external side of the tufts, rather than inside them; eggs are laid about 20 to 50 cm above the water level. In the heathland, around the breeding site, tens of adults were seen every autumn and winter, also in December and January sunny days. Reproductive S. paedisca were also occasionally observed in other two localities, namely the lake of Viverone and the “Riserva Naturale Orientata Palude di Casalbeltrame” (= Casalbeltrame Fen Oriented Natural Reserve). Notes on breeding behaviour and a description of both breeding and overwintering area of S. paedisca are provided, since knowledge of its breeding and overwintering sites is needed to ensure their protection and therefore the conservation of Italian populations of this damselfly.

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