Residents identify rare dragonfly species on the Kwa Zulu Natal Mid-South Coast

 

Residents identify rare dragonfly species on the KZN Mid-South Coast

 

Located within the vast 1,300-hectare Renishaw Coastal Precinct on the KZN South Coast, the mature lifestyle estate of Renishaw Hills has been developed with a strong focus on conservation. This sustainable approach has drastically enhanced the region’s biodiversity, with resident ‘citizen scientists’ identifying the rare Sable Cruiser dragonfly – among many other unique species.

 

“Renishaw Hills was developed on land previously used in sugar cane farming, and the developers undertook a rehabilitation process – led by renowned landscaper and botanist, Dr Elsa Pooley with one of KZN’s leading experts in rehabilitation, Geoff Nichols,”

explains Barto van der Merwe, MD of Renishaw Property Developments, developers of Renishaw Hills.

 

“This included extensive alien invasive plant removal with indigenous plants then sourced from the Izinyoni Indigenous Nursery at Crocworld Conservation Centre, which was established specifically to produce enough of the correct plant material for returning natural vegetation to the estate. We’re now seeing the fruits of this labour with our local Citizen Scientists actively documenting the incredible biodiversity supported by the conservation area at Renishaw Hills.”

 

 

Citizen Scientists make a ‘phenomenal sighting’

 

To document the return of animal and plant species to the region, a group of around 44 local Citizen Scientists, set up a project on the global iNaturalist platform three years ago to record and study wildlife within the Renishaw Coastal Precinct.

 

Tim McClurg, one of the Citizen Scientists involved in the project, explained that iNaturalist – which is supported by the National Geographic Society, among others – is the most prominent platform of natural sciences:

“Citizen Science opens the door to a hugely advanced system whereby biodiversity observations may be made constantly across the globe and shared instantly via a vast network.”

 

To date, the group has made 13,863 observations spread across 1,796 species, with McClurg noting one dragonfly sighting as one of the rarest in recent history. Recalling the event last December, he said he photographed a dragonfly near the Renishaw Hills Community Centre, which he then posted on iNaturalist.

 

“The response was immediate and enthusiastic from our local group of experts – among them Peter Small - who confirmed it was a Sable Cruiser [Phyllomacromia monoceros], which is incredibly rare, localised and vulnerable,”

noted McClurg.

“The total number of specimens ever seen in South Africa is probably around 20, with the first recorded sighting in Barberton, Mpumalanga around 1920.”

 

He says the most recent Renishaw Hills sighting is by far the furthest south the Sable Cruiser dragonfly has been spotted – by about 800 kilometres:

“This raises a few questions. Has it always occurred here and simply been overlooked? Was it blown down in a storm? Is there a link with global warming? These are the sorts of questions that we may be able to answer with a vastly increased iNaturalist database.”

 

Peter Small agreed, saying this ‘phenomenal sighting’ is an indication of the importance of Renishaw Hills as a dragonfly area:

“We have recorded 75 of the 165 species of southern African dragonflies and damselflies in our area, with a few being unusual distribution records. Our area is rated as one of the top dragonfly hunting spots in the country.”

 

 

The need for Citizen Scientists

 

Citizen Science is effectively the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists. Platforms like iNaturalist provide instant access to many millions of records across the globe – each of which is accompanied by photographs, location, identification and much more.

 

McClurg encourages others to join as Citizen Scientists, stating:

“By joining and contributing, you may open a path that will enrich your knowledge of wildlife and give you the satisfaction of contributing to an important cause.”

*Information provided by the publicist