1. Twenty-plume Moth - 07/01
2. Red-barred Tortix - 07/01
3. March Moth - 17/02
4. Common Quaker - 17/02
5. Satellite - 17/02
6. Pale Brindled Beauty - 17/02
7. Dotted Border - 26/02
8. Light Brown Apple Moth - 03/03
9. Clouded Drab - 11/03
10. Twin-spotted Quaker - 11/03
11. Early Grey - 11/03
12. Red Chestnut - 13/03
13. Red Sword-grass - 02/04
14. Oak Beauty - 07/04
15. Powdered Quaker - 12/04
16. Brindled Pug - 13/04
17. Oak-Tree Pug - 13/04
18. Pine Beauty - 14/04
19. Early Thorn - 14/04
20. Tawny Pinion - 14/04
21. Mottled Grey - 15/04
22. Emmelina monodactyla - 15/04
23. Engrailed - 15/04
24. V-Pug - 15/04
25. Common Pug - 15/04
26. Double-striped Pug - 15/04
27. Flame Carpet - 15/04
28. Eriocrania subpurpurella - 106/04
29. Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet - 21/04
30. Herald - 21/04
31. Garden Carpet - 21/04
32. Small Phoenix - 21/04
33. Shuttle-shaped Dart - 21/04
34. Swallow Prominant - 22/04
35. Flame Shoulder - 22/04
36. Red-green Carpet - 25/04
37. Early-tooth Stripe - 26/04
38. Red Chestnut - 27/04
39. White Pinion-spotted - 28/04
40. Silver Y - 30/04
41. BRINDLED BEAUTY - 02/05
42. Lime Hawkmoth - 02/05
43. Iron Prominent - 02/05
44. Lunar Marbled Brown - 03/05
45. Specatcle - 03/05
46. Yellow-barred Brindle - 05/05
47. Rustic Shoulder Knot - 05/05
48. Clouded Silver - 05/05
49. Scalloped Hazel - 08/05
50. Knot Grass - 08/05
51. Spruce Carpet - 09/05
52. Cinnabar - 09/05
53. Seraphim - 11/05
54. Pale Tussock - 11/05
55. Poplar Hawkmoth - 11/05
56. Silver-ground Carpet - 11/05
57. Sallow Kitten - 12/05
58. Common Swift - 12/05
59. Heart and Dart - 12/05
60. Pale Shouldered Brocade - 12/05
61. Platyptilia gonodactyla - 15/05
62. Common Marbled Carpet - 15/05
63. Cabbage Moth - 15/05
64. Map-winged Swift - 15/05
65. Pebble Hook-tip - 15/05
66. Broken-barred Carpet - 15/05
67. Syndemis musculana - 15/05
68. Green Silver-lines - 16/5
69. Green Pug - 16/5
70. Bright-line Brown-eye - 17/05
71. Lychnis - 18/05
72. Miller - 22/05
73. Mottled Pug - 22/05
74. Peach Blossom - 23/05
75. Poplar Grey - 23/05
76. Peppered Moth - 23/05
77. Elephant Hawkmoth - 23/05
78. Small Elephant Hawkmoth - 23/05
79. Broken Barred Carpet - 23/05
80. May Highflyer - 24/05
81. Lesser Swallow Prominant - 24/05
82. Turnip - 26/05
83. Clouded Bordered Brindle - 26/05
84. Bordered White - 26/05
85. White-spotted Pug - 01/06
86. Brimstone - 01/06
87. Purple Bar- 01/06
88. Green Arches - 01/06
89. Marbled Minor - 01/06
90. Smokey Wainscot - 01/06
91. SILVER HOOK - 01/06
92. Campion - 02/06
93. Blood Vein - 02/06
94. Figure of Eighty - 02/06
95. Ingrailed Clay - 02/06
96. Brown Silver Line - 02/06
97. Small Fanfoot - 03/06
98. Grey Pug - 03/06
99. Dwarf Pug - 03/06
100. Green Pug - 03/06
101. Dark Spectacle - 03/06
102. Setaceous Hebrew Charecter - 03/06
103. Puss Moth - 09/06
104. Eyed Hawkmoth - 09/06
105. Riband Wave - 10/06
106. Buff-tip - 10/06
107. Coxcomb Prominant - 10/06
108. Dusky Brocade - 106/06
109. Freyer's Pug - 11/06
110. Golden-rod Pug - 11/06
111. Red Barred - 12/06
112. Straw Dot - 12/06
113. White Ermine - 12/06
114. Pale Mottled Willow - 12/06
115. Small Angle Shades - 17/06
116. Ghost Swift - 18/06
117. Garden Carpet - 18/06
118. Snout - 18/06
119. Lempke's Gold Spot - 18/06
120. Brown House Moth - 18/06

Moth Links

Rochdale Dragonflies

A total of 16 species of Dragonflies and Damselflies have been recorded in Rochdale, but with climate change and other factors influencing our warmer summers, the numbers of Dragonflies and Damselflies have never been greater within the area. In only a few years Broad-bodied Chaser has gone from virtually unknown in the area, to perhaps on of the commonest species (23 males and 6 females were at the BMX Track pool at Queens Park in June 2005!) and this species will probably increase even more over the next few years. The same can be said for the Emperor Dragonfly, not known locally in the area until around 2005 when a group of 10 were at a pond at Pilsworth and a female was at the BMX Track at Queens Park on the same day in June, males were seen at many sites throughout the year. Large numbers of Emerald Damselflies and Black Darter have been noted and Ruddy Darter and Southern Hawker are both new arrivals to the area and will hopefully increase over the coming years. Black-tailed Skimmer and Migrant Hawker are perhaps the two most likely species to be seen next in the area as both of these species are extending their range - proved in 2006 when both species were seen!

SPECIES IDENTIFACTION AND STATUS

Banded Demoiselle - Calopteryx splendens

Description: Unmistakable, the male has large blue spots on all wings, the only damselfly that occurs in the area to do so. The male has a stunning metallic blue-green body, the female has a uniformly green body and has no markings on the wings. Much bigger than other damselflies.

Similar Species: The Beautiful Demoiselle is similar but has green-black wings all over rather than a blue spot, this species has never been recorded in the area.

Flight Season: Early June - early September

Habitat: Streams, rivers and canals which are slow flowing, prefers to have vegetation on the banks.

Status in Rochdale: A handful of records exist, all in last 10 years, the most recent being July 2004 at Higher Naden Reservoir. This species is likely to increase over the next few years, especially with the improvements to the Rochdale Canal.

Best Place to see this Species: No site is reliable for this species at the moment.

Emerald Damselfly - Lestes sponsa

Description: Both male and females are an emerald green, the male also has blue on the tip of the abdomen, where the wings join the abdomen and the eyes are also blue. The female has no blue and is green all over with browner sides. Unlike most damselflies this species will hold its wings out at an angle when at rest, rather than flat along the body.

Simiar Species: No other small damselfly is this colour that occurs in the area.

Flight Season: Early July-early September

Habitat: Occurs in alot of ponds, pools and even brackish water around the area, but all usually quite acidic.

Status in Rochdale: Widespread but increasing, mainly confined to more upland ponds, but in recent years Healey Dell, Hollingworth Lake and the BMX Track at Queens Park have had small numbers.

Best Place to see this Species: Wham Dam, Watergrove and parts of Blackstone Edge have all had over 200 recorded in a day in 2005.

Large Red Damselfy -Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Description: Easy to identify being almost red all over with a green thorax and green markings on the lower segments of the abdomen. Female forms can show large amounts of black along the abdomen, but this has never been noted in the area. Usually the first damselfly to be flying in the year by up to a fortnight.

Similar Species: No other damselfly is red in the area.

Flight Season:  - Early May - late July

Habitat: Almost anywhere, ponds, streams, rivers, woodlands and hedgerows can support this species, it has been seen on bilberry well away from water.

Status in Rochdale: Very common and can be encountered at almost any site, though never in great numbers.

Best Place to see this Species: Most sites have this species, the educational pond at Healey Dell is a good site.

Azure Damselfly - Coenagrion puella

Photo: Steve Collins

Description: A small blue damselfly with blue and black markings all over. The thorax has narrow stripes, and the abdomen is mostly blue with small black intervals but a larger expanse of black at the end of the abdomen.

Similar Species: The Common Blue Damselfly (below) is very similar and can be hard to distinguish. The stripes on the thorax are usually much narrower than the Common Blue. There is a U-shaped marking on the 2nd segment at the top of the thorax on the Azure, on the Common Blue it is more a 'spade' shape.

Flight Season: Late May-mid August

Habitat: Mostly sheltered water bodies such as small ponds but can be found almost anywhere where there is suitable vegetation to emerge, including canals.

Status in Rochdale: The commonest species of damselfly in the area where 100's can occur at many sites.

Best Place to see this Species: The BMX Track at Queens Park is a good site for this species.

Common Blue Damselfly - Enallagma cyathigerum

Photo: Peter Stevens

Description: Very similar to the Azure Damselfly, small blue and black damselfly. Has blue stripes along the thorax which are broader than the Azure, and the 2nd segment at the top of the abdomen has more of a 'spade' shape than a U.

Similar Species: See Azure Damsellfy (above).

Flight Season: Early June - late August

Habitat: Anywhere that has an expanse of water from canals to small ponds.

Status in Rochdale: Has probably been overlooked due to the cionfusion with Azure Damselflies, now considered widespread and not as near as common as the Azure, though can still be found at many sites, but not in a great number.

Best Place to see this Species: Pilsworth Fisheries has had a good number of this species over the years as has Watergrove, but can be found at many sites.

Blue-tailed Damselfy - Ischnura elegans

Description: Another blue and black damselfly but easily told from Azure and Common Blue by the large expanse of black along the abdomen with a blue tip to the end. The thorax also has blue stripes. Other forms of this species, which have different colour thorax such as red and purple, have also been noticed in the area.

Similar Species: Can be told from other damselflies by the black abdomen and blue tip to the end.

Flight Season: Early June - late August.

Habitat: Various water bodies from brackish streams to large ponds.

Status in Rochdale: Common, found at most sites and can sometimes be found in good numbers.

Best Place to see this Species: Any site, but the BMX  Track at Queens Park seems to be better than most.

Common Hawker - Aeshna juncea

Description: Males are are generally black with blue markings along the abdomen, the thorax has yellow stripes along it. The female is brown all over with yellow spots along the abdomen.

Similar Species: Males can look like Southern Hawkers but the Southern is far more green all over, the female may look like a Brown Hawker but the yellow markings along the abdomen are larger and it does not have brown wings like the Brown Hawker.

Flight Season: Early July - early October

Habitat: Found in a variety of habitats from moorland areas to garden pond, large lakes and wooded ponds.

Status in Rochdale: Common, found in a wide variety of habitats all over the area and can be rather numerous.

Best Place to see this Species: Watergrove seems a better place than any locally, but they can be found almost anywhere.

Southern Hawker - Aeshna cyanea

Description: Both sexes appear green, the male has a green thorax with green markings down the abdomen, there is also a blue tip to the tail. The female has just green markings down the abdomen.

Similar Species: Common Hawker is similar but the markings are blue not green.

Flight Season: Early July- Late September

Habitat: Likes woodland clearings with ponds present, also canals and lakes but all with large vegetation.

Status in Rochdale: Rare, only one record locally, but has been seen on the boundaries of the area so perhaps will increase over the next few years.

Best Place to see this Species: No site is reliable for this species at the moment.

Brown Hawker - Aeshna grandis

Photo: Peter Stevens

Description: Both male and female appear brown all over and even the wings are tinged brown. Males has small blue spots along the side of the abdomen.

Similar Species: No other hawker species has brown tinged wings.

Flight Season: Early July - Late September

Habitat: Breeds in shallow water, small ponds, canals, and slow-flowing rivers, but can be found a good distance away from water.

Status in Rochdale: Common, can be seen all over the area even away from water.

Best Place to see this Species: The pond near Higher barn farm seems a good place for this species.

Emperor Dragonfly - Anax imperator

Description: The male in flight is easy to identify with a blue abdomen and green thorax. The male patrols its territory frequently and will chase off other dragonflies that intrude on it. The female has a green body and green thorax.

Similar Species: Its size and colour markings make it easy to distinguish from other Hawkers.

Flight Season: Early June - late August

Habitat: Can be found at a wide variety of habitats from small urban ponds, larger more well vegetated ponds and even canals.

Status in Rochdale: A new arrival but has spread very quickly, was confined to sites in the South-west but now can be found at almost any suitable habitat in the area.

Best Place to see this Species: The BMX Track at Queens Park had a small number in 2005.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly - Cordulegaster boltonii

Description: The largest Dragonfly in the UK and the female is larger than the male. Its size makes it easy to identify, the yellow hoops around the narrow abdomen and green eyes make it unmistakable.

Similar Species: None

Flight Season: Mid June - mid August 

Habitat: Narrow streams which are deeply cut, usulayy with fern and bracken on the banks.

Status in Rochdale: Rare, only a few records exist, some from uplands areas in the north of the area, but also two records from the River Roch.

Best Place to see this Species: No site is reliable for this species at the moment

Broad-bodied Chaser - Libellula depressa

Description: The males are a light blue colour which stands out from a distance when this species is seen from a distance. The broad body with yellow spots on the side of the abdomen and the dark patches on the shoulders make the male relatively easy to identify. The female is yellow and brown all over but has a slightly broader body than the male.

Similar Species: The four-spotted Chaser could be confused with females of this species, but the Four-spotted has a much narrower abdomen and has the charecteristic spots on the wings, see below for more dtail.

Flight Season: Early June - late July

Habitat:Can be seen in many water habitats including garden ponds, (though this has not been noted in Rochdale yet), small ponds, standing water and ditches, it has been noted over large puddles and semi-permanent water.

Status in Rochdale: Was formely rare in the area until around 2003 when an individual was seen, in 2004 singles figures were seen on a few ponds and in 2005 double figures were reached on one pond with smaller numbers all over the borough, 2006 has had many sightings at new sites, this species may soon become the commonest species in the area.

Best Place to see this Species: The BMX Track at Queens Park has a good population with 23 males seen there in 2005.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Four-spotted Chaser - Libellula quadrimaculata

Description: Both amle and female are very similar, the four-spotted chaser is like no other that occurs locally. as well as the balck spots at the end of the wings, this species contains four more in the middle of each of the wing. The abdomen can be a golden-yellow with the latter part being black.

Similar Species: Female Broad-bodied Chaser can be similar but they have a much broader abdomen and they do not have the charecteristic spots.

Flight Season: Late May - early August

Habitat: A variety of habitats, but locally usually on more upland ponds and bogs and even slow running streams. Recently has been seen on lowland ponds with alot of vegetation.

Status in Rochdale: Increasing, was usually confined to a handful of records each year but breeding has taken place near Lords Wood and up 5 have been seen in 2006, elsewhere still uncommon.

Best Place to see this Species: Chaser Pondis the most reliable site, elsewhere it seems it can turn up anywhere.

Common Darter - Sympetrum striolatum

 

Description: Males have an orange-red abdomen and yellowish stripes on the thorax. The degree of orange-red can vary with the age of a speciemen with some looking redder than others. Females and immatures are a yellow-brown colour, although some mature females can be rather red.

Similar Species: The rarer Ruddy Darter is also red, but is a deep red and the abdomen appears 'pinched' in the middle.

Flight Season: Early July - early October

Habitat: Can be found in many habitats from small ponds to rivers, canals and large lakes.

Status in Rochdale: Common, can be found in rather large numbers at good sites and is one of the last species to be seen in the year.

Best Place to see this Species: Watergrove has had good numbers in the past nut most sites will be reliable.

Ruddy Darter - Sympetrum sanguineum

 

Description: Similar to the Common Darter but is a deeper red all over including its eyes. The shape of the abdomen is noticable as it looks like it has 'pinched' so it appears narrow in the middle of it.

Similar Species: Common Darter is similar but the Ruddy is far more red and has a 'pinched abdomen'.

Flight Season: Late July - early October

Habitat: This species like shallow water usually with plenty of vegetation including wooded areas. Also likes canal and even slow flowing streams.

Status in Rochdale: Very Rare, only one record up to 2006.

Best Place to see this Species: No place is reliable for this species in the area.

Black Darter - Sympetrum danae

Description: A small dragonfly species, the male is black all over, the female a vibrant yellow with balck along the side of the abdomen.

Similar Species: No other small Black dragonfly occurs in the UK, and the small size distunguishes it from all over dragonflies.

Flight Season: Mid July - mid September

Habitat: Usually upland ponds which are particulary acidic or even nutrient poor, but has recently been found at lower levels.

Status in Rochdale: Locally quite common, prefers more upland localities such as Blackstone Edge, Wham Dam and Watergrove, but has been seen at lower levels, including a garden on Shawfield Lane which is a good distance from its usual habitat.

Best Place to see this Species: Wham Dam holds good numbers of this species as well as the ponds at Watergrove where over 100 were seen in July 2005.

Links