25. Sympetrum danae (Sulzer, 1776)

Conservation and breeding status: LC (EU), LC (IT), LC (MED), B

This circumboreal lentic dragonfly was recorded and observed as breeding in LPO (7) and PDS (15); in

the latter, two groups of 20 and 30 individuals were observed in two sites 135 m apart (9 Sep 2016) and an intense period of copulation and oviposition was recorded. De Marmels & Schiess (1978) reported this species for the Vigezzo valley, in the municipality of Santa Maria Maggiore which is situated ca 5 km from VGNP boundary. It was the second most abundant species for the park and surrounding areas. In Italy the occurrence of S. danae is limited to the Alps (Riservato et al. 2014c). In Piedmont it is rather localized in a few alpine valleys, including Val d’Ossola (Boano et al. 2007) where later surveys revealed it to be more widely distributed (Clemente et al. 2011; Bionda et al. 2013). A similar pattern relative to distribution and elevation was observed in adjacent Swiss Cantons Tessin and Valais (Wildermuth et al. 2005). Though occurring in all Italian Alpine regions and not being listed in any red list, S. danae shows a scattered distribution and is often represented by small populations which may suffer from climate change and desiccation of suitable habitats in the future (Assandri 2019; Boudot et al. 2009; Gheza 2013; Sindaco et al. 2008; Zandigiacomo et al. 2015).