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Warwickshire is on the Northern limit of the range of this species.
Though generally considered a riverine species traditionally its
stronghold here is the canal system in the east of the county. Tolerant
of high traffic density and water turbidity it can on occasion be
prolific on stretches of canal as, for example, the Grand Union at
Stockton. It is also insensitive to the nature of the bank, be it
concrete kerbing or more natural. Particularly useful is its habit of
emerging on the canal concrete kerb enabling the odonatist easily to
find, collect and count exuvia! It is also present
on the county river systems.
Before 1997 records were confined to the east of the county and the
species was more abundant on the canals than the rivers. In May of that
year it was recorded for the first time in the west of the county on
the Avon.
In succeeding years its recorded range extended up the Avon and the
Alne
tributary. In 2002 it was recorded for the first time on the Stratford
Canal
at Preston Bagot. There has been a less marked trend westward from the
eastern stronghold of the species. Also, the species seems to more
abundant
on the rivers in the east than it was prior to 1997.
There are still areas of the county with suitable riverine and still
water sites where it is unrecorded, see the distribution map.Records
from these areas of the county are
particularly welcome.
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