This species was first recorded in the UK in Essex in 1999.
Since
that date it has been rapidly spreading north and west in the
country.
It was discovered in Warwickshire for the first time 15 August
2004 at
the Swift Valley Reserve, Rugby. This followed almost immediately
on
its discovery in Northamptonshire. Breeding activity has been
observed
at this site.
The species can be expected to colonise suitable habitat in the
county rapidly in the next few years. It is particularly
associated
with water bodies
with floating vegetation such as Hornwort (Ceratophyllum),
Water
Milfoil (Myriophyllum) and Water-Tyme (Elodea). At
the
Swift
Valley it was exploiting Ivy-leafed Duckweed Lemna trisulca.
Since 2004 there was been a rapid extension of its range. In
summer
it was the dominant Red-eyed species at some sites. In 2008
its
progress stalled and numbers of individuals
at established sites declined. The decline continued in 2009 and
2010 but stabilised in the period 2011 to 2013.
It is a species that appears to tolerant
of lower quality water.