Dragonfly experts and observers in China are calling for more protection for the flying insects as they are disappearing at an alarming speed.
A spot-fronted darter. /Terry Townshend
Zhang Yuezhi, a long-time dragonfly observer, said he is most concerned about the mountainous areas in southern China, for example mountains in Yunnan, Guizhou Provinces, as some dragonfly species only survive in a confined area and once their habitats in that area are destroyed, the species will disappear.
According to Zhang, there are currently nearly 6,000 dragonfly species around the world, but many have disappeared before they were discovered.
A female dragonfly laying eggs on grass. /Wen Yuchuan
Zhang Haomiao, a top dragonfly expert in China, recalled discovering the only habitat in the country for a rare species of the creature in southwest China's Yunnan Province, but the next time he visited, the water grass in the pond was cleared, forcing the insect to abandon their habitat. Zhang said that he has not seen that type of dragonfly again in the country since then.
Wen Yuchuan, a musician and a long-time dragonfly enthusiast, noted that ponds left untouched by people are one of the favorite places for dragonflies. He is also concerned about water pollution in rivers and chemical fertilizers in farming fields.
(Cover image by Wen Yuchuan)
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