Anisoptera

The present attempt is to analyze the role of aquatic insects especially Odonates diversity in maintaining the status of the Komaranahalli wetland. The study was conducted from November 2012 to October 2013 during which, a total of 33 species of Odonates belonging to 6 families have been recorded. Among them order-Anisoptera (Dragonflies) was predominant with 24 species, followed by the Zygoptera (damselflies) with 9 species. Among the order-Anisoptera, the family Libellulidae was widely distributed and dominated with high percentage composition followed by the Coenagrionidae among order-Zygoptera i.e., 84%, (n=18) and 67% (n=6) respectively. The status based on the frequency of occurrence shown that 40% were common, 21% were occasional, 18% were very common, 15% were rare and 6% were very rare. The study highlights the importance of odonates and threats in their habitat due to different anthropogenic activities and also provides the baseline data of Odonate diversity of Davanagere District of Karnataka state for research on their biology and the conservation.

A study on diversity of odonates was conducted at Kuvempu University Campus located in Bhadravti Taluk, Shivamogga District of Karnataka. The study was conducted to explore status, diversity and threats of Odonates during February 2012 to January 2014. During the study period, a total of 43 species of Odonates in 31 genera belonging to 7 families have been reported. Among them the order-Anisoptera (Dragonflies) dominated with 30 species, followed by the order-Zygoptera (damselflies) with 13 species. The family Libellulidae dominated with 24 species among the Anisoptera. Among the Zygoptera, Coenagrionidae was found to be the dominant family with 8 species. The occurrence of IUCN categorized two Near Threatened species like Vestalis gracilis and Indothemis carnatica, one Data Deficient species like Orthetrum pruinosum and one Endemic species like Anaciaeschna jaspidea were remarkable this indicates that, the area was found to be rich in odonate diversity.

A study on diversity of odonates was conducted at Kundavada Lake located in Davanagere District of Karnataka. The study was conducted to explore status, diversity and conservation threats of Odonata from October 2010 to September 2011. During the study period, a total of 32 species of Odonates in 24 genera belonging to 6 families have been reported. Among them the order-Anisoptera (Dragonflies) dominated with 23 (72%) species, followed by the Zygoptera (damselflies) with 9 (28%) species. The family Libellulidae dominated with 19 species among the Anisoptera. Among the Zygoptera, the family Coenagrionidae was found to be the dominant with 6 species and least by the Lestidae with 1 species. Based on the frequency of occurrence of odonates, 37% of the species were common, 22% were occasional, 19% were very common, 16% were rare and 6% were very rare. The study highlights the importance of odonates and threats in their habitat due to different anthropogenic activities and also provides the baseline data on Odonate diversity of some major wetlands of Davanagere District of Karnataka state for research on their biology and the conservation.

The present study recorded a total of 45 species of Odonata, of which one species, Ischnura mildredae, was recorded for the first time from West Bengal in India. Thirty-eight species were found in Tamluk Municipality as compared to 21 species in Haldia Industrial Belt (IB), with 14 species common to both the localities. Index of similarity revealed that the two localities were slightly dissimilar in odonate faunal composition as only 47% of species were shared. In both the localities, Anisoptera was more abundant, comprising over 69% of the total odonates. Libellulidae was the most abundant Anisopteran family in both the localities, comprising over 66% of the total odonates. Coenagrionidae was the most abundant Zygopteran family in both the localities. Thirteen species of Anisoptera and 11 species of Zygoptera were found only in Tamluk whereas two species of Anisoptera and five species of Zygoptera were found only in Haldia IB. Crocothemis servilia, Pantala favescens, and Ceriagrion coromandelianum were the dominant species in Tamluk while Brachythemis contaminata and Orthetrum sabina were the dominant species in Haldia IB. Based on the values of Shannon index, Tamluk was considered unpolluted (=3.16) and Haldia IB moderately polluted (=2.43). Higher equitability index (J=0.87) and very low dominance index (0.06) in Tamluk indicated homogeneity in community composition and relatively stress-free equitable environment. The present investigation suggests that Odonata can be used as bioindicators of industrial pollution.

Parangkusumo sand dune is a one of unique eolian ecosystem in Yogyakarta. The study on the species diversity of dragonflies in this habitat is still limited. The main purpose of this research was to observe the dragonflies species diversity in Parangkusumo sand dune, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The collection of dragonflies was done by aerial collection using sweep net. The specimens identification was done in Entomology Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada based on the morphological characters of the adult stage. The results showed that there were 22 species of Odonata, including 17 dragonflies (Anisoptera) and 5 damselflies (Zygoptera). The diversity index (H') was 2.51 which inferred medium diversity. Several species such as Anax guttatus, Lestes praemorsus and Tramea transmarina were found to be endemic species. The highest relative abundance of the species was Orthetrum sabina (21.79%) and lowest abundance of species is Orthetrum chrysis (0.14%). Parangkusumo sand dune has medium dragonfly diversity, thus it is recommended this habitat need to be conserved.

A study on diversity of odonates was conducted at Kondajji Lake of Kondajji Village located in Harihar Taluk, Davanagere District of Karnataka. The study was conducted to explore status, diversity and threats of Odonates during February 2007 to January 2008. The study revealed a total of 34 species of Odonates in 24 genera belonging to 6 families have been reported. Among them Anisoptera (Dragonflies) dominated with 25 species, followed by the Zygoptera (damselflies) with 9 species. The family Libellulidae dominated with 20 species among the Anisoptera. Among the Zygoptera, Coenagrionidae was found to be the dominant family with 6 species. Based on the frequency of occurrence 35% of the species were common, 23% were very common, 21% were rare, 15% were occasional and 6% were very rare. According to IUCN categorization all the odonate species recorded from the study area comes under 'Least Concern' (LC) category. The study provides the baseline data on Odonates diversity of some major wetland water bodies of Davanagere District of Karnataka state for research on their biology and the conservation.

The morphology of this African sp. is illustrated and described. A comparison is made with other known Brachydiplactinae. the South American Elga leptostyla and Nephepeltia phryne and the African Hemistigma albipuncta. The group is a very heterogenous one in terms of larval morphology.

Summary A new dragonfly genus and species, Juragomphus karatauensis, from the Upper Jurassic of Karatau in Kazakhstan is described and attributed to a new family Juragomphidae. The phy- logenetic position and relationships of this new taxon are discussed.

Odonata is an insect order with two sub orders, Zygoptera and Anisoptera. They are an amazing insect group with an amphibious life cycle. This makes them an important component of freshwater ecosystems and indicators of ecosystem health. The present study was an attempt made to document and analyse the odonate diversity of College of Forestry Sirsi campus, a 14-ha site in Sirsi, Karnataka, India. The study was done in the field where individual observations were identified and recorded with the help of appropriate field guides. A total of 32 odonate species, i.e., 22 dragonflies and 10 damselflies belonging to 7 families were observed in the study area. Within this diversity, a higher proportion of families Libellulidae and Coenagrionidae within orders Anisoptera and Zygoptera respectively was found. This presence of generalists more than specialists might be due to higher proportion of anthropogenic disturbances in the study site.

An up to date chapter on the Odonata of Mexico is presented. Since the last update in 2006, 5 new species were described, 11 new records were added and 14 species have been described in their larval stage. Hence, the Mexican list presented here is constituted by a total of 355 species. Comments on endemism, endangered species and/or at risk are included.