Aeshna juncea

8. Aeshna juncea (Linnaeus, 1758)

Conservation and breeding status: LC (EU), LC (IT), LC (MED), B

This holarctic lentic dragonfly was widespread and abundant in VGNP, being recorded in 5 out of the 7 study areas (LPR, 18; LGE, 21; LPO, 7,8,9,10; CDB, 20; PDS, 15); it was missing from EXP, as this area predominantly lies at a low altitude, and from CPB where suitable standing water habitats are scarce. Reproduction was confirmed in 4 study areas; only in CDB it was not confirmed, despite the site containing a small natural pond lying at suitable altitude, and further visits would be required to establish reproduction. Larvae and exuviae were found in most ponds and lakes surveyed in LPO and LPR, where up to 300 larvae were observed in a single visit (LPO, 9, 28 Aug 2011, Clemente et al. 2011). A. juncea was reported as the most common and widespread dragonfly for the alpine area by

Boano et al. (2007), though at the time only one unpublished record was available for VCO and two further observations had been retrieved from De Marmels & Schiess (1978), of which one was collected in Pian dei Sali. Later improved surveys allowed this species to be recorded in north eastern Piedmont and provided 11 new records for VGNP until 2013 (Clemente et al. 2011; Riservato et al. 2014c). This study added another 28 records, confirming A. juncea as the most abundant and widespread dragonfly in the park. Similar results have been observed in other alpine parks, including from west to east Mont Avic (Aosta Valley, Sindaco et al. 2008), Maritime Alps and Veglia Devero (Piedmont, provinces of Cuneo and VCO, Bionda et al. 2013; Pettavino 2015), Stelvio (Lombardy, province of Sondrio, Trentino and South Tyrol) and Texelgruppe (South Tyrol, Lösch et al. 2013).