The presence of two species of damselflies detected at the Balsaldea reservoir in Vitoria-Gasteiz

05/07/2023

Sampling of Odonata by the Centre for Environmental Studies has identified the common blue damselfly and the red damselfly.

The restoration of the Basaldea area in Vitoria-Gasteiz, which was carried out as part of the LIFE Urban Klima 2050 project, is already having a positive effect on the area's ecosystem. The latest samples of Odonata carried out by the Vitoria-Gasteiz Environmental Studies Centre (CEA) have identified two new species of damselflies in the pond created in the area - the common blue damselfly and the red damselfly.

Although these animals are common in other sampling points in the city, they have not been found in the Basaldea pond until now. Their importance stems from their role as bio-indicators of the quality of the aquatic environment in which they live, and they are currently among the most endangered groups of fauna, due to the fact that bodies of water are drying up and becoming polluted.

The samples were taken as part of the citizen science activities organised by the CEA in the capital of Alava. More specifically, the aim of the Odonata Conservation Programme is to increase knowledge about the ecology, behaviour and distribution areas of the dragonflies and damselflies that inhabit the aquatic ecosystems around Vitoria-Gasteiz.

The restoration of the Basaldea area is one of the pilot projects being carried out under the action C.4.2 Key green infrastructure for improving urban-rural connection and the resilience of the territory.