Oostelijke witsnuitlibel (Leucorrhinia albifrons) herontdekt in Nederland

Boer, E.P. de & M.T, Wasscher, 2006. Rediscovery of Leucorrhinia albifrons in The Netherlands. Brachytron 9 (1&2): 14-20. In late June 2005, several specimens of Leucorrhinia albifrons were seen on the Dellebuursterheide, a nature reserve in the province of Friesland, The Netherlands. This rare species was thought to be extinct in the Netherlands, The last record dates from 1994, also in Friesland. In the days following the rediscovery a suitable reproduction site was found where the species was seen regularly until July 12, with a maximum number of ten individuals on a single day. In addition to the sighting of several ovipositing females, a larval skin was found, thus proving successful reproduction at this site. The habitat of the reproduction site consists of a shallow oligomesotrophic lake of 200x100 meter in a lightly wooded heath landscape. Except for a submerged blanket of peat moss (Sphagnum sp.) the vegetation is rather poor in species and indicates moderately acid circumstances. Before the nineties, this site was completely cleared of overgrown vegetation and the enriched soil was removed by the local conservation body within the framework of a recovery program. It is therefore likely that L. albifrons has not colonised the lake until after 1990, since the habitat previous to the undertaken recovery measurements, is considered to have been unsuitable for the species. Therefore, the origin of this population still remains unclear. In 2006 further investigation will take place to discover possible other reproduction sites, and to provide a species protection program.