Diversity and distribution of dragonflies and damselflies (Order: Odonata) in forested & urban areas of North and South 24 Parganas & Kolkata Districts of West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

This communication illustrates the lower odonate diversity in built-up city cores than in forested & wetland areas. During study a total of 20 odonate species distributed over 17 genera under two suborders Anisoptera (dragonflies) and Zygoptera (damselflies) were encountered. These include Argia translata Hagen in Selys (Dusky Dancer) and Ischnura hastata (Say) (Citrine forktail) were recorded first time from the country, Onychogomphus forcipatus (Linnaeus) (Small Pincertail) and Libellula incesta Hagen (Salty skimmer) endemic to India, Argia translata Hagen in Selys (Dusky Dancer), Ischnura hastata (Say) (Citrine forktail), Onychogomphus forcipatus  (Linnaeus) (Small Pincertail) and Libellula incesta Hagen (Salty skimmer) recorded first time from the state and nearly 50% of the reported species new for the North 24 Pargana district. Anisoptera was the most dominant with 14 species under 13 genera while Zygoptera represented by only 6 species. The family Libellulidae was the most dominant with 12 species under 11 genera. Among dragonflies Brachythemis contaminata (Fabricius) was the most common, abundant and dominant species followed by Crocothemis servilia (Drury). Ceriagrion coromandelianum (Fabricius) was the most abundant species throughout the study area and recorded several times at a far distance from water bodies. More sighting was during  monsoon and post monsoon seasons. The fauna apart from being Oriental also includes Palaearctic (45%), Australian (25%), Ethiopian (20%), Nearctic (15%) and Neotropical (5%) elements. As per the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, most of the species reported here are categorized under least concern species category. Further survey updates existing knowledge on odonate diversity in the study area and will aid conservation management planning.

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WSN 184 (2023) 103-129

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