Odonata fauna of Kırklareli province

This study, which was conducted to detect the Odonata fauna of Kırklareli Province in the Thrace Region, was carried out in 58 different localities determined in various wetlands in the region in the spring, summer and autumn seasons of 2022 and 2023. As a result of the research, a total of 43 Odonata species/subspecies were recorded from the study area, with 16 species belonging to the Zygoptera suborder and 27 species/subspecies belonging to the Anisoptera suborder. Among these species, Cordulia aenea (Linnaeus, 1758) is new to the research region and is also a new record for the Thrace Region. The number of species known as 57 for the Thrace region has increased to 58 with this record. Other species recorded for the first time in the research area are Lestes dryas Kirby, 1890, Erythromma viridulum (Charpentier, 1840) and Libellula quadrimaculata Linnaeus, 1758. With the addition of new species to the previously known Odonata species list from Kırklareli Province, the number of species has increased to 50. While the Odonata fauna of the Longoz Forests, located within the borders of Kırklareli Province and having a special habitat, is represented by 19 species with the studies carried up present; with the current research, Calopteryx splendens (Harris, 1782), Calopteryx virgo (Linnaeus, 1758), Erythromma viridulum (Charpentier, 1840), Aeshna isoceles (Müller, 1767), Aeshna mixta Latreille, 1805, Crocothemis erythraea (Brullé, 1832), Orthetrum albistylum (Selys, 1848), Orthetrum brunneum (Fonscolombe, 1837), Orthetrum coerulescens (Fabricius, 1798) and Selysiothemis nigra (Vander Linden, 1825) were also added to the species list. Records of Somatochlora borisi Marinov, 2001, which is evaluated as VU (Vulnerable) in both the IUCN Red List of World and European Odonates, Lindenia tetraphylla (Vander Linden, 1825) and Cordulegaster picta Selys, 1854, which is evaluated as VU (Vulnerable) in the IUCN Red List of European Odonates, and Cordulegaster insignis Schneider, 1845 taxa, which are evaluated in EN (Endangered) status from the study area, increase the distribution data of these species within the borders of Kırklareli Province and also reveal that the habitats of these species, which are also rarely distributed in the Thrace Region, should be protected as a priority.