Recently, volunteers of the Community Conservation Area for Libellula angelina at Tianjin (CCAfa), established by China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), found about a dozen of herbicide bottles at six sites neighboring the CCAfa. Libellula angelina is very sensitive to ecology and the environment. In this situation, CBCGDF volunteers are concerned that the use of herbicide would pose a grave threat to the endangered species.

Volunteers have taken pictures of Libellula angelina in 2005, 2017, and 2019. This April, volunteers snapped pictures of this creature.

Libellula angelina is the only species that is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) by the IUCN among over 800 dragonfly species. Libellula angelina (also known as bekko tombo) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It has a medium-size and usually habitats in a moist environment at small water bodies. Libellula angelina is generally golden to rusty-brown, with distinctive dark markings on its wings. It used to be common in Beijing in early Spring (from April to May). People can see its figure along water edges. Due to the rapid development of urbanization and the consequent loss of habitats, the population has been shrinking.

According to the assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the population of Libellula angelina is less than 5,000 and classified the species as Critically Endangered, which means its endangerment level is higher than panda (Endangered, EN). In comparison with the white-flag dolphin of the same endangerment grade, the little Libellula angelina received scant attention.

The disappearance of insects is profoundly reflecting the loss of species. If these small organisms cannot survive in the current environment, then what a huge impact posed by chemicals to human health would be!

Original Chinese article:

http://www.ccafa.org/NewsShow/4899/12583.html

By / Wang Yanqing