CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF ODONATA (INSECTA) IN MOLDOVA: IAŞI COUNTY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47743/jemb-2025-229Keywords:
Romania, Moldova, Odonata, check-list, faunisticsAbstract
From 21‑vi to 29‑vi‑2024 I made an odonatological study trip to Iaşi County, northeastern Romania. During this trip I examined 39 sites of both standing and flowing water and noticed 23 species of Odonata. Many sites are threatened by littering and drying out. The results of the trip demonstrate the summer aspect of the Southeast European dragonfly and damselfly fauna; neither spring nor autumn species were observed. Interesting from a faunistic point of view are the very early observation of immature Sympecma fusca at two sites, the northernmost record of Somatochlora meridionalis east of the Carpathians, and the almost complete absence of species of the genera Lestes, Aeshna, Gomphus s.l., Libellula and Sympetrum. The mentions of some species in the literature are critically examined.
References
[ANCPI] Agenția Națională de Cadastru și Publicitate Imobiliară. 2019-2024. Geoportal. [accessed 01-iv-2024] https://geoportal.ancpi.ro/portal/home/
Antonescu B, Ene D, Boldeanu M, Andrei S, Mărmureanu L, Marin C, Pîrloagă R. 2023. Future changes in heatwaves characteristics in Romania. Theoretical and Applied Climatology. 153:525-538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-023-04412-5
Beck HE, McVicar TR, Vergopolan N, Berg A, Lutsko NJ, Dufour A, Zeng Z, Jiang X, Van Dijk AIJM, Miralles DG. 2023. High-resolution (1 km) Köppen-Geiger maps for 1901–2099 based on constrained CMIP6 projections. Scientific Data. 10:724. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02549-6
Bernard R, Daraż B. 2015. Cordulegaster heros and Somatochlora meridionalis in Ukraine: solving the zoogeographical puzzle at their northern range limits (Odonata: Cordulegastridae, Corduliidae). Odonatologica. 44(3):255-278.
Bernard R, Wildermuth H. 2005. Nehalennia speciosa (Charpentier, 1840) in Europe: a case of a vanishing relict (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae). Odonatologica. 34(4):335-378.
Bernard R, Buczyński P, Tończyk G, Wendzonka J. 2009. A distribution atlas of dragonflies (Odonata) in Poland. Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe. Poznań. 256 pp.
Billqvist M, Andersson D, Bergendorff C. 2019. Nordens trollsländor. [Nordic dragonflies]. Avium. Stenåsa. 352 pp. (in Swedish)
Boda R, Bereczki C, Pernecker B, Mauchart P, Csabai Z. 2015. Life history and multiscale habitat preferences of the red-listed Balkan Goldenring, Cordulegaster heros Theischinger, 1979 (Insecta, Odonata), in South-Hungarian headwaters: does the species have mesohabitat-mediated microdistribution? Hydrobiologia. 760:121-132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2317-y
Boudot J-P, Dyatlova E. 2015a. Chalcolestes parvidens (Artobolevskij, 1929). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 52-53.
Boudot J-P, Dyatlova E. 2015b. Gomphus flavipes (Charpentier, 1825). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 188-190.
Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ, editors. 2015. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 381 pp.
Boudot J-P, Nelson B. 2015. Coenagrion lunulatum (Charpentier, 1840). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 106-107.
Boudot J-P, Willigalla C. 2015. Chalcolestes viridis (Vander Linden, 1825). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 53-54.
Boudot J-P, David S, Šácha D. 2015a. Gomphus vulgatissimus (Linnaeus, 1758). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 196-197.
Boudot J-P, Bernard R, Martin M. 2015b. Epitheca bimaculata (Charpentier, 1825). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 234-235.
Boudot J-P, Grand D, Wildermuth H, Monnerat C. 2017. Les Libellules de France, Belgique, Luxembourg & Suisse. [The Dragonflies of France, Belgium, Luxembourg & Switzerland.] Biotope Éditions. Mèze. 455 pp. (in French)
Brochard C, Van Der Ploeg E. 2014. Fotogids Larven van Libellen. [Photo guide Dragonfly larvae.] KNNV. Zeist. 238 pp. (in Dutch)
Brochard C, Groenendijk D, Van Der Ploeg E, Termatt T. 2012. Fotogids Larvenhuidjes van Libellen. [Photo guide Dragonfly exuviae.] KNNV. Zeist. 320 pp. (in Dutch)
Bușmachiu G, Munjiu O. 2024. Check-list of the Odonata of the Republic of Moldova. Odonatologica. 53(1/2):69-93.
Cerini F, Stellati L, Luiselli L, Vignoli L. 2020. Long-term shifts in the communities of odonata: effect of chance or climate change? North-Western Journal of Zoology. 16(1):1-6.
Chovanec A, Schindler M, Rubey W. 2012. Assessing the success of lowland river restoration using dragonfly assemblages (Insecta: Odonata). Acta ZooBot Austria.150-151:1-16.
Cîrdei F. 1956a. Contribuţiuni la fauna Odonatelor din Oltenia. [Contributions to the fauna of Odonata from Oltenia.] Analele Științifice ale Universității “Al. I. Cuza” din Iași (Serie Noua), Secțiunea II (Științe naturale). II(1):185-193. (in Romanian)
Cîrdei F. 1956b. Contribuții la răspîndirea zigopterelor în R.P.R. [Contributions to the spread of Zygoptera in the P.R.R.]. Analele Științifice ale Universității “Al. I. Cuza” din Iași (Serie Noua), Secțiunea II (Științe naturale). II(1):195-203. (in Romanian)
Cîrdei F. 1956c. Contribuţii la cunoaşterea râspîndirii subordinului Anisoptera (Ord. Odonata) în Moldova [Contributions to the knowledge of the distribution of the suborder Anisoptera (Ord. Odonata) in Moldova]. Analele Științifice ale Universității “Al. I. Cuza” din Iași (Serie Noua), Secțiunea II (Științe naturale). II(2):203-210. (in Romanian)
Cîrdei F, Borcea P. 1949. Contribuţiuni la faunce [sic!] Odonatelor din Moldova [Contributions to the fauna of Odonata from Moldova]. Revista științifică “V. Adamachi”. XXXV(3-4):193-195. (in Romanian)
Cîrdei F, Bulimar F. 1961. Contribuții la studiul larvelor odonatelor (ord. Odonata) din Moldova [Contributions to the study of odonate larvae (order Odonata) from Moldova]. Analele Științifice ale Universității “Al. I. Cuza” din Iași. VII(2):343-350. (in Romanian)
Cîrdei F, Bulimar F. 1965. Fauna Republicii Populare Române. Insecta. Volumul VII. Fascicula 5 (Odonata) [Fauna of the Romanian People's Republic. Insect. Volume VII. Part 5 (Odonata)]. Academia Republicii Populare Rômane. Bucharest. 274 pp. (in Romanian)
Cordero-Rivera A, Sánchez-Guillén RA. 2024. Contrasting female colour morph frequencies between Ischnura genei and I saharensis populations (Odonata: Coenagrionidae). Odonatologica. 53(1/2):95-110. https://doi.org/10.60024/odon.v53i1-2.a5
Dyatlova ES. 2004. [Structure of polimorphic population Ischnura elegans (V. d. Linden, 1823) (Insecta, Odonata) from lowland of Khadzhybejsky firth]. “Up-to-date problems of zoology science”. Transactions of the All- Ukrainian scientific conference “Scientific lectures devoted to the 170th anniversary of the foundation of the Zoology department and the 100th anniversary of Prof. O. B. Kistyakivs’ky's birthday. Kaniv. Kyiv. 52-54. (in Russian)
Dijkstra K-DB, Schröter A, Lewington R. 2020. Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe. 2nd, revised and thoroughly updated edition. Bloomsbury Publishing. London. 336 pp.
European Community. 1992. Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. [accessed 10 vii-2024]. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1992/43/oj
Flenker U. 2011. Odonata of the Romanian Carpathians with notes on Somatochlora alpestris and on the first Romanian record of Aeshna subarctica (Odonata: Corduliidae, Aeshnidae). Libellula. 30(3/4):183-202.
Gerken B, Sternberg K. 1999. The Exuviae of European Dragonflies. Arnika & Eisvogel. Höxter, Jena. 354 pp.
Ghețeu D. 2012. Preliminary Study on Odonata Larvae (Insecta: Odonata) from “Eleșteiele Jijiei și Miletinului” (ROSPA0042): Population Dynamics and Conservation Issues. Analele Științifice ale Universității “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iași, s. Biologie animal. LVIII:13-21.
Gorb SN. 1999. Visual cues in mate recognition in the damselfly Ischnura elegans Vander Linden (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae). International Journal of Odonatology. 2(1):83-93. https://doi.org/10.1080/13887890.1998.9748115
Gosden TP, Stoks R, Svensson EI. 2011. Range limits, large-scale biogeographic variation, and localized evolutionary dynamics in a polymorphic damselfly. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 102:775-785.
Harta Romaniei. 2007-2024. Harta judetului Iasi. [accessed 01-iv-2024]. https://pe-harta.ro/iasi/
Heidemann H, Seidenbusch R. 2002. Die Libellenlarven Deutschlands. [Dragonfly larvae of Germany.] Goecke & Evers. Keltern. 328 pp. (in German)
Holuša O. 2009. Notes to the first record of Somatochlora meridionalis (Odonata: Corduliidae) in the Czech Republic. Acta Musei Beskidensis. 1:89-95.
[INS / DJS IS] Institutul Naţional de Statistică / Direcţia Judeţeană de Statistică Iaşi. 2024. Anuarul statistic al județului Iaşi 2023 [Statistical yearbook of Iași County 2023]. 191 pp.
Kalkman VJ. 2015. Sympetrum pedemontanum (Müller in Allioni, 1766). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 304-306.
Kalkman VJ, Chelmick D. 2015a. Libellula depressa Linnaeus, 1758. In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 267-269.
Kalkman VJ, Chelmick D. 2015b. Libellula fulva Müller, 1764. In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 269-270.
Kalkman VJ, Conze K-J. 2015. Sympetrum depressiusculum (Selys, 1841). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 295-297.
Kalkman VJ, Kulijer D. 2015. Sympetrum flaveolum (Linnaeus, 1758). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 297-298.
Kalkman VJ, Proess R. 2015. Anax parthenope (Selys, 1839). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 177-179.
Kalkman VJ, Aagaard K, Dolmen D. 2015a. Libellula quadrimaculata Linnaeus, 1758. In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 270-272.
Kalkman VJ, Martin M, Bernard R. 2015b. Sympetrum danae (Sulzer, 1776). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 293-294.
Kalkman VJ, Šácha D, David S. 2015c. Sympetrum striolatum (Charpentier, 1840). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 309-311.
Kalkman VJ, Šácha D, David S. 2015d, Sympetrum vulgatum (Linnaeus, 1758). In: Boudot J-P, Kalkman VJ editors. Atlas of the European dragonflies and damselflies. KNNV. Zeist. 311-313.
Kipping J. 1998. Ein Beitrag zur Libellenfauna (Odonata) Rumäniens. [A contribution to the dragonfly fauna (Odonata) of Romania.] Mauritiana (Altenburg). 16(3):527-538. (in German)
Lehmann AW, Nüß JH. 2015. Libellen. Bestimmungsschlüssel für Nord- und Mitteleuropa. 6. Auflage. [Dragonflies. Identification key for Northern and Central Europe. 6th edition.] Deutscher Jugendbund für Naturbeobachtung. Göttingen. 199 pp. (in German)
Lehrer AZ, Bulimar F. 1979. Sinteze cartografice ale patrimoniului natural al României - II. ordinul Ordonata [sic!] Fabricius, 1792 [Cartographic summaries of Romania's natural heritage - II. the order Odonata Fabricius, 1792]. Nymphaea - Folia naturae Bihariae. VII:343-393. (in Romanian)
Lemke M. 2021. Indication of a successful development of Chalcolestes viridis (Vander Linden, 1825) in subalpine terrain (Odonata: Lestidae). Libellula. 40(3/4):161-172. (in German)
Lemke M, Hryniuk P. 2022. First record of the dragonfly biting midge Forcipomyia paludis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Ukraine. Ukrainska Entomofaunistyka. 13(1):7-10.
Manci C-O. 2011. The Dragonfly (Insecta: Odonata) Collection of Iaşi Museum of Natural History (Romania). Travaux du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa”. LIV(2):379-393.
Manci C-O. 2012. Dragonfly Fauna (Insecta: Odonata) from Romania. [PhD Thesis Abstract]. “Babes-Bolyai” University. Cluj-Napoca. 64 pp.
Manci C-O. 2016. Dragonflies (Insecta, Odonata) in Timiș County (Banat, Romania), a general view of distribution. Acta Oecologica Carpatica. IX:85-120.
Manci C-O. n.d. a. Aeshna mixta Latreille, 1805. [accessed 25 vii-2024] http://dragonfly.nature4stock.com/?page_id=90
Manci C-O. n.d. b. Onychogomphus forcipatus (Linnaeus, 1758). [accessed 25 vii-2024] http://dragonfly.nature4stock.com/?page_id=264 (25-vii-2024).
Manci C-O. n.d. c. Sympecma fusca (Vander Linden, 1820). [accessed 25 vii-2024]http://dragonfly.nature4stock.com/?page_id=430
Manci C-O. n.d. d. Erythromma najas (Hansemann, 1823). [accessed 25 vii-2024]http://dragonfly.nature4stock.com/?page_id=874
Manci C-O. n.d. e. Lestes macrostigma (Eversmann, 1836). [accessed 25 vii-2024] http://dragonfly.nature4stock.com/?page_id=1254
Mapy.cz. 1996-2024. Mapy.cz (free off- and online map). [accessed 01-iv-2024] https://en.mapy.cz/
Martens A, Petzold F, Mayer J. 2012. Die Verbreitung der an Libellen parasitierenden Gnitze Forcipomyia paludis in Deutschland (Odonata; Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). [Distribution of Forcipomyia paludis in Germany, a parasite of dragonflies (Odonata; Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)]. Libellula. 31(1/2):15-24. (in German)
Mikołajczuk P. 2014. A record of the emergence of second generation of the Small Bluetail Ischnura pumilio (Charpentier, 1825) and Common Bluetail Ischnura elegans (Vander Linden, 1820) (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) in the Central-Eastern Poland. Odonatrix. 10(1):24-30. (in Polish)
Monnerat C, Weiss E, Churko G, Fabian Y. 2021. Die Libellengemeinschaft der Nassreisfelder in der Schweiz (Odonata). [The dragonfly community of wet rice fields in Switzerland (Odonata).] Libellula Supplement. 16:201-228. (in German)
Munjiu O, Toderaş I, Zubcov E, Biletchi L, Subernetkii I. 2014. Composition and Distribuition [sic!] of benthic Macroinvertebrates in the Pruth River (2012-2013). Analele Științifice ale Universității “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iași, s. Biologie animal. LX:27-34.
Nicoară M, Erhan M, Plăvan G, Cojocaru I, Davideanu A, Nicoară A. 2009. The Ecological Complex Role of the Macroinvertebrate Fauna from the River Ciric (Iași, România). Analele Științifice ale Universității “Al. I. Cuza” Iași, s. Biologie animal. LV:125-132.
Ott J. 2010. Dragonflies and climatic changes - recent trends in Germany and Europe. In: Ott J, editor. Monitoring Climatic Change With Dragonflies. BioRisk. 5: 253-286. https://doi.org/10.3897/biorisk.5.857
Ott J, Brauner O, Mey D. 2015. Crocothemis erythraea (Brullé, 1832). Libellula Supplement. 14 (= Libellen Deutschlands. Band II):250-253. (in German)
Petzold F. 2006. Parasitierung von Libellen durch Wassermilben an einem Moorsee in Nordbrandenburg (Odonata; Hydrachnidia). [Infestation of dragonflies by water mites at a bog lake in northern Brandenburg, Germany (Odonata, Hydrachnidia)]. Libellula. 25(3/4):185-198. (in German)
Račkauskaitė D, Gliwa B. 2015. First Record of Crocothemis erythraea (Odonata: Libellulidae) in Lithuania. New and Rare for Lithuania Insect Species. 27:5-6.
RetuRO. 2024. Hai în Hora Reciclării. România adoptă Sistemul de Garanție-Returnare pentru reciclare eficientă. [Come to the Recycling Hour. Romania adopts the Guarantee-Return System for efficient recycling.] [accessed 01 iv-2024]. https://returosgr.ro/en
Romanian Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests. 2022. Romania’s Eighth National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Romanian Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests. Bucharest. 287 pp.
Schiel F-J. 2006. Nachweis einer zweiten Jahresgeneration von Erythromma najas (Odonata: Coenagrionidae). [Detection of a second annual generation of Erythromma najas (Odonata: Coenagrionidae).] Libellula. 25(3/4):159-164. (in German)
Schmidt E. 1957. Was ist Somatochlora sibirica Trybom? [What is Somatochlora sibirica Trybom?] Beiträge zur naturkundlichen Forschung in Südwestdeutschland. 16:92-100. (in German)
Schneider T, Vierstraete A, Kosterin OE, Ikemeyer D, Hu F-S, Snegovaya N, Dumont HJ. 2023. Molecular Phylogeny of Holarctic Aeshnidae with a Focus on the West Palaearctic and Some Remarks on Its Genera Worldwide (Aeshnidae, Odonata). Diversity 15(9):950. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15090950
Schweighofer W. 2011. Ein Jahr mit Sympecma fusca in Niederösterreich (Odonata: Lestidae). [One year with Sympecma fusca in Lower Austria (Odonata: Lestidae).] Libellula. 30(3/4):157-172. (in German)
Slave C, Rotman AL, Man CM, Dima CI. 2013. Climate evolution in Romania in the global climate change using dateabases [sic!]. Iaşi University of Life Science, Scientific Papers Journal, Horticulture Series. LVI(1):37-42.
Sternberg K. 1999. Ischnura elegans (Vander Linden, 1820) Große Pechlibelle. In: Sternberg K, Buchwald R editors. Die Libellen Baden-Württembergs. Band 1: Allgemeiner Teil, Kleinlibellen (Zygoptera). [The Odonata of Baden-Württemberg. Volume 1: General Part, Damselflies (Zygoptera).] Eugen Ulmer. Stuttgart. 335-348. (in German)
Svensson EI, Abbott JK, Gosden TP, Coreau A. 2007. Female polymorphisms, sexual conflict and limits to speciation processes in animals. Evolutionary Ecology. 23(1):93-108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-007-9208-2
Tamm J. 2018. Untersuchungen an Larven und Exuvien der Cordulegaster bidentata an einem Bach im Kaufunger Wald und ihre ökologischen und methodischen Konsequenzen (Odonata: Cordulegastridae). [Investigations on larvae and exuviae of Cordulegaster bidentata at a forest stream in Kaufunger Wald, Germany, and the ecological and methodological consequences (Odonata: Cordulegastridae).] Libellula. 37(3/4):161-180. (in German)
Wildermuth H. 2008. Die Falkenlibellen Europas. [The Emerals of Europe.] Die Libellen Europas Bd. 5 = Die Neue Brehm-Bücherei Bd. 653. Westarp Wissenschaften. Hohenwarsleben. 496 pp. (in German)
Wildermuth H, Martens A. 2019. Die Libellen Europas - Alle Arten von den Azoren bis zum Ural im Porträt. [The dragonflies of Europe - portraits of all species from the Azores to the Urals.] Quelle & Meyer. Wiebelsheim. 958 pp. (in German)
Zawal A. 2008. Morphological characteristics of water mite larvae of the genus Arrenurus Dugès, 1834, with notes on the phylogeny of the genus and an identification key. Zootaxa. 1765:1-75.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Martin Lemke
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The journal allows readers to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, link to the full texts or use the articles for any other lawful purpose.
The authors are the sole copyright owners of the published articles. The articles are distributed under the CC BY 4.0 license to the readers.
The readers are free to:
Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially
Under the following terms:
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions — you may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Reviewer Recognition Service. Forward your thank you e-mail to 
