Kosterin O.E. 2026. Putative invasion of Anax imperator Leach in Brewster, 1815 (Odonata, Aeshnidae) to Novosibirskaya Oblast of Russia in early July 2025 // Euroasian Entomological Journal. Vol.25. No.1: 4–8 [in English].
Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Academika Lavrentyeva Ave. 10, Novosibirsk 630090 Russia; Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova Str. 2, Novosibirsk 630090 Russia. E-mail: kosterin@bionet.nsc.ru ORCID: 0000-0001-5955-4057
doi 10.15298/euroasentj.25.01.02
ABSTRACT. Anax imperator Leach in Brewster, 1815 was hitherto unknown from the well studied Novosibirskaya Oblast but was once reported from the neighbouring Altaiskii Krai. Few males of A. imperator Leach were observed and registered photographically during 7–17 July 2025 in Novosibirskii and Iskitimskii Districts of Novosibirskaya Oblast. This dragonfly was no longer encountered during further regular monitoring of the location in the Novosibirskii District. These observations can be interpreted as evidence of an irregular short-term invasion of A. imperator Leach at least to the east of Novosibirskaya Oblast, supposedly from the south (e. g. from Altaiskii Krai). The protected status of A. imperator Leach is critically discussed. An updated checklist of 62 species of Odonata currently known from Novosibirskaya Oblast is provided.
KEY WORDS: Odonata, dragonfly, West Siberia, Novosibirskaya Oblast, first record, invasion.