First records of Aeshna isoceles and the rediscovery of Lestes barbarus on Cyprus (Odonata: Lestidae, Aeshnidae)

In this paper we report the presence of Aeshna isoceles for the first time from Cyprus. Five males were observed and photographically documented in May 2012 in a small valley below Rizokarpaso on the Karpasia peninsula. This was, however, not followed up at that time. The species was rediscovered by members of the Cyprus Dragonfly Study Group (CDSG) in the same valley in April 2019. Reproductive behaviour (copula and oviposition) was observed and a population is assumed to be present. It seems possible that the species has been present on the island for some time but overlooked, due to the remoteness of the site. Furthermore, members of the CDSG also photographically documented a male Lestes barbarus at an agricultural tank near Agridia in August 2019. The last published sighting of this species on Cyprus was of four specimens dating back to 1948 that are stored in the collection of the British Museum of Natural History. We further report on two unpublished sightings of this species at Fasouri marsh in 1997 and on the Gialias river near Kotsiatis in 2002. The records of Aeshna isoceles increase the Odonata checklist for Cyprus to 38 species.