Irish Damselfly
VU

Irish Damselfly

Coenagrion lunulatum

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_damselfly

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Irish Damselfly faces severe habitat degradation from agricultural intensification and drainage of its specialized wetland environments. Eutrophication from agricultural runoff has altered water chemistry in many of its remaining sites, while climate change threatens the delicate hydrological balance of the shallow, calcium-rich waters it requires. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions from habitat modification.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Irish Damselfly inhabits shallow, calcium-rich lakes, ponds, and slow-flowing streams with abundant emergent vegetation, particularly in areas with marl substrates. It requires clean, well-oxygenated waters with specific chemical conditions and dense stands of aquatic plants for egg-laying and larval development.

Other threatened species in Coenagrionidae

VU

Seychelles Fineliner

Teinobasis alluaudi

Unknown
Red-eyed DamselflyVU

Red-eyed Damselfly

Erythromma najas

Unknown
Goblet-marked DamselflyVU

Goblet-marked Damselfly

Erythromma lindenii

Unknown
Variable DamselflyEN

Variable Damselfly

Coenagrion pulchellum

Unknown

Threatened in Armenia

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
Anthophore estivaleCR

Anthophore estivale

Anthophora aestivalis

Unknown
Adonis BlueVU

Adonis Blue

Lysandra bellargus

Unknown
VU

Olive Skipper

Pyrgus serratulae

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Irish Damselfly classified as Vulnerable?
Irish Damselfly is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Irish Damselfly faces severe habitat degradation from agricultural intensification and drainage of its specialized wetland environments. Eutrophication from agricultural runoff has altered water chemistry in many of its remaining sites, while climate change threatens the delicate hydrological balance of the shallow, calcium-rich waters it requires. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions from habitat modification.
Where does Irish Damselfly live?
Irish Damselfly occurs in Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, and China (plus 23 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Irish Damselfly?
The main threats to Irish Damselfly are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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