TWO species of southern dragonfly appear to have established themselves in the North-East.
The British Dragonfly Society says the emperor and migrant hawker have now been reported on dozens of sites across the region.
Dragonfly experts Ian Waller, recorder for County Durham, and Harry Eales, who covers Northumberland, have been studying the insects east of the Pennines.
Neither insect existed north of the Humber before 1980 but now the study has revealed more than 20 emperor sites in the region.
There are more than 30 migrant hawker sites with a large increase in sightings of both creatures since 1999 in particular. At least one site had more than 40 migrant hawkers.
Many sightings have come from County Durham and both dragonflies have now crossed the Tyne and are heading into Northumberland.
Insect experts believe they are heading north as the climate warms up.
The survey data is published in the latest edition of the specialist journal British Wildlife in an article by Mr Waller, from Derwentside, and his Cumbrian counterpart, David Clarke.
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