New finds of ‘critical’ species of Odonata in Armenia - Onychogomphus assimilis and Libellula pontica V. Ananian The latest review of the Odonatofauna of through the Caucasus and Iran to Turkmenistan. Armenia (Tailly et al., 2004) has briefly The species inhabits mountain streams, often outlined both past and recent research on the in wooded environment (Dumont et al., 1992; dragonflies of the country and has presented an Boudot, 2006; Dijkstra & Lewington, 2006). updated checklist for the country. Two species Libellulapontica has a similar distributionpattern, in the checklist - Onychogomphus assimilis and but is reaching farthersouth to Israel and Jordan Libellula pontica - were lacking recent records and eastto Kyrgyzstan. It is found in river valleys and had not been observed in Armenia since with slow flowing waters of natural and artificial their last observation half a century ago. Both origin richly fringed with reed (Dumont 1991; species have a West Asiatic biogeographic Dijkstra & Lewington 2006; Kalkman 2006). affinity (Akramowski, 1948, 1964; Dumont et al. 1992). Onychogomphus assimilis is distributed Published data of Onychogomphus assimilis from the eastern Mediterraneancoast eastwards from Armenia comprise two records from Syunik Figure 1. Map showing locations mentioned in the text with historical and recent records of Onychogomphus assimilis and Libellula ponticafrom Armenia. 36 Table 1. Records of Onychogomphus assimilis and Libellula pontica from Armenia. For each record, the number of the the location with the is - individuals, date, coordinates, altitude, the kind of habitat and the source given. Legend: no is * information available, years ofcollection notspecified in the source. Coordinates Altitude Species Number recorded Date LocationLocation ProvinceProvince (decimal (m Habitat Source degrees) a.s.l.) VayotsVayots Akramowski OnychogomphusOnychogomphus assimilis 1 male.male, 2females 6-9.vii.*6-9.VÜ.* Vaik town 39.69N,45.47E 1240 Arpa River Dzor 19461948 AkramowskiAkramowski assimilis 1 malemale 13.vi.* vill. OnychogomphusOnychogomphus Getapvill.Getap Vayots Dzor 39.76N,39.76N.45.31E45.31E 1130 - 1948 Karahunj AkramowskiAkramowski OnychogomphusOnychogomphus assimilis -■ 10.vi.1954 Syunik 39.48N.3948N.46.36E 1230 - vill.vill. 1958 Akramowski towntown OnychogomphusOnychogomphus assimilis -- 13.vii.1954 Ijevan Tavush 40.87N, 45.15E 710 - 1958 Meghri brook in OnychogomphusOnychogomphus assimilis 1 malemale 31.V.2010 Syunik 38.90N.38.90N.46.24E 630630 This study town orchards Shvanidzor seasonal Onychogomphus assimilis 2-3males 31.V.2010 Syunik 39.93N,46.37E 650 This study vill.vill. brook Onychogomphus assimilis 2malesmales 3.vi.20103.VÏ.2010 Kapan town Syunik 39.21N. 46.4146.41E 770 brook This study 24-27(ind.(ind. 10 males YenokavanYenokavan Khachaghbyur Onychogomphus assimilis 6.vii.2011 Tavush 40.91N,40.91N. 45.10E 800 This study andaa putative female) vill.vill. River Akramowski LibellulaLibellulaponticapontica 1 teneralfemale 8.vi 1962 Darakertvill.vill. Ararat 40.UN.40.11N,44.4144.41EE 844 small river 1964 Libellulapontica 1 male 3.vi.2011 Arevik vill Armavir 40.10N,40.1ON, 44.09E 856 drainage pondpond This study 1 female/immature Libellulaponticapontica 3.vi.2011 JanfidaJanfidavill. Armavir 40.04N,40.04N.44.02E 868 drainage pondpond This study male Figure 2. Male Onychogomphus assimilis, 31 May 2010, Shvanidzor village, Syunik province, Armenia (Photo: Vasil Ananian). Brachytron 15(1): 36-42, 2012 37 Figure 3. Male Onychogomphus assimilis, 6 July 2011, Yenokavan village, Tavush province, Armenia (Photo: Vasil Ananian). Figure 4. Habitat ofOnychogomphus assimilis, 6 July 2011, Yenokavan village, Tavush province, Armenia (Photo: Vasil Ananian).. 38 Figure 6. Habitat of Libellula pontica, 3 June 2011, Arevik village,Armavir province, Armenia (Photo: Vasil Ananian). and Tavush provinces and a report of four Shvanidzor (Figure 2). At the latter site, the specimens from one general area in Vayots Dzor males were patrolling and occasionally chasing province (Akramowski 1948, 1958). Libellula each other over a 20-25 m stretch of the brook. pontica continues to be cited as occurring in A few days later, two males exhibiting similar Armenia in recent publications (e.g. Kalkman et behaviourwere found in the town of Kapan. In the of found al, 2004, Kalkman 2006). In fact, this statement is province Tavush the species was based on a single record of an immature female on 6 July 2011 in good numbers at a fast flowing, collected in 1962 Yerevan in wooded near (Akramowski rocky stream a gorge nearthe village 1964). The historical records for both species of Yenokavan (Figures 3 & 4). On a section of in are shown on the map Figure 1. In 2010 and the stream, at four points some 500 m from each 2011, all historical locations (with one exception) other, point counts were done, yielding four, at for both species were revisited and additional least six, four and three individuals respectively. appropriate sites and habitats were surveyed. An additional estimated seven to ten individuals were easily spotted through binoculars, without Recent observations and discussion even properly counting them. They were perched An overview of the recent records for on rocks along a stretch of approximately 1 km Onychogomphus assimilis and Libellulapontica of the lower part of the stream. Onychogomphus in Armenia is given in Table 1. A map of the assimilis was listed as rare and sporadically visited localities is given in Figure 1. present in Armenia (Akramowski 1948). This statement is supported by our own observations, Onychogomphus assimilis since a considerable number of spring-summer In Syunik province, a male was found, on 31 field trips were conducted throughoutthe country May 2010, in an orchard in the town of Meghri. during the last 14 years and none were found On the same day, two-three males were seen before 2010 (V. Ananian & M. Tailly own data). at a shallow seasonal brook in the village of On a visit to Arpa River and its tributaries on Brachytron 15(1): 36-42, 2012 39 Figure 5. Male Libellula pontica, 3 June 2011, Arevik village,Armavir province, Armenia (Photo: Vasil Ananian). 21 July 2011, a total of c.4.5 km of appropriate trips in search of this species were organized river sections was surveyed at elevations of in the provinces of Armavir and NW Ararat. All 1035-1630 m a.s.l., with only Onychogomphus together some 50 km along streams, brooks and forcipatus to be found at all sites. Likewise, on ditches in the Arax River valley, with frequent visits to the town of Meghri and the village of stops and point observations at appropriate Shvanidzor on 7-11 July 2010, only O. forcipatus sites, yielded only the two individuals of L. and O. flexuosus were found at the sites where pontica, while the species was not found at the O. assimilis was recorded in late May and early historical site (Akramowski 1964). It is possible June of the same year. The limited available that the 2011 surveys were outside the species’ data at suggest that the species’ flight period in the proper flight period this latitude. However, arid central part of Armenia may be over by the in the southern part of Turkey, L. pontica was end of July. Probably even earlier in the lowlands recorded from early May to the of southern Armenia, where climatic conditions last decade of July (Kalkman & van Pelt 2006). in summer are significantly more hot and arid. During a visit to Syria in late May and early June The species was recorded in Turkey from the 2010, the species was still on the wing (Johan van beginning of May through to the end of July, with ‘t Bosch in litt. 2011). Nevertheless, the paucity most records coming from the last decade of of records indicates that L. pontica is probably May and from June (Kalkman & van Pelt 2006). rare and sparsely distributed in Armenia. Libellula pontica Protection and further study The species was only found in the province of Onychogomphus assimilis is listed as Vulnerable Armavir on 3 June 2011 at two locations, c. 9km in the I DON List of Threatened Species (Boudot from each other. At each site, one individual 2006) and is also assessed as rare and was encountered hanging around the edges of Vulnerable in the Red Book of Armenia (Ananian irrigation water bodies - interconnected ponds 2010a). The most important threats to the and canalsfringed with emergent vegetationsuch species in Armenia are believed to be changes as reed (Phragmites sp.) and bulrush (Typha sp.) in hydrological regimens of streams and rivers (Figure 5, Figure 6). On 3 and 11 June 2011 two and their pollution. Construction and exploitation 40 of small dams on mountain rivers and water- River valley specifically for the conservation of L. harnessing for irrigation in valleys and arid pontica and Platycnemis dealbata. His proposal regions are common practices in Armenia. This however, was not realized. is also the case at the described study sites for A re-evaluation of the conservation status of the species. O. assimilis, L. pontica and other rare Odonata in Armenia is needed and the development The global status of Libellula pontica is of conservation measures for their protection evaluated as Near Threatened (Kalkman 2006), is a priority. The study and protection of these while in the Armenian Red Book it is classified species in Armenia should include surveys in as rare and Endangered (Ananian 2010b). The their historical and potentially suitable habitats Arax River valley, where the species occurs, is with an emphasis on the Specially Protected the densest populated region in Armenia. It has Areas. This research would hopefully reveal largely been transformed into agricultural land, new populations of O. assimilis and L. pontica with a dense network of irrigation and drainage in Armenia. and flooded all which ditches, channels areas, of are exposed to pollution and heavy exploitation. Acknowledgements One of the 2011 specimens was found near an The 2010 data were collected during bird and active sand pit, which are common in this region.