Odonata projects
NBC Naturalis owns the larges and most diverse collection of Odonata in the world, to which fresh material from expeditions all over the world is added on a regular basis. Dragonflies have not been barcoded to a large extend, and this project aims to start off a global barcoding initiative by generating a considerable amount of barcodes. Pre-adult stages of dragonflies are difficult to identify with morphological characters, but can provide good indication of water quality. This project thus provides a valuable reference library for water researchers with organisations such as Rijkswaterstaat, the Waterschappen en ecological consultants.
Four specimens of Odonata; Umma saphirina (top left), Nannophya pygmaea or Scarlet Dwarf (top right), Rhinocypha tincta (bottom left) and Coeliccia cyaneothorax (bottom right)
Click here for an overview of the collected Dutch species.
Friday, December 16, 2011