Data to the Dragonfly Fauna of Lower Neretva River

We present the frst list of dragonfly fauna of the lower Neretva River, comprising 44 species. During the period from June – September from 2003 to 2005 the first systematic investigations of dragonflies of the Lower Neretva river were carried out at 6 locations. The following methods were used: the method of collecting by entomological nets, the method of strolling and observing and the method of taking photographs. On the basis of the collected individuals at different life stages (larvae - exuvia and adult individuals), a total of 44 species, 22 genera, 8 families and 2 suborders of the order Odonata were established. 12 species are newly registered for the fauna of the area: Calopteryx virgo, Ceriagrion tenellum, Aeshna cyanea, Brachytron pratense, Onychogomphus forcipatus, Corulia aenea, Somatochlora flavomaculata, Somatochlora meridionalis, Orthetrum albystylum, Orthetrum coerulescens, Sympetrum flaveolum and Sympetrum fonscolombii. The established qualitative structure of the dragonflies of the Lower Neretva river represents 60% of the total number of species in Croatia which proves that the investigated area is significant for the protection of the biodiversity of the dragonfly fauna