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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2014; 2 (6): 16-21 ISSN 2320-7078 JEZS 2014; 2 (6): 16-21 © 2014 JEZS Received: 18-10-2014 Accepted: 25-10-2014 Atanu Bora Research Scholar, Division of Animal Production, ICAR, RC for NEH Region Umiam- 793003, Meghalaya, India. L. R. Meitei Research Scholar Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics Assam University, Silchar-788011, Assam, India. Correspondence: Atanu Bora Research Scholar, Division of Animal Production, ICAR, RC for NEH Region Umiam- 793003, Meghalaya, India.

Odonates (Dragonflies and Damselflies) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),

Research Complex for NEH Region Campus, Umiam, Meghalaya, India

Atanu Bora and L. R. Meitei Abstract Odonates play crucial role in ecosystem functioning and can be used as biological indicators of environmental quality. Although much work have been carried out regarding the abundance and distribution of insect orders in Meghalaya, no sufficient effort has been made to study the diversity and distribution of Odonates. Thus, in the present study an attempt has been taken to study the diversity and abundance of Odonates in ICAR, RC for NEH Region campus, Meghalaya, India. A total of 33 species of Odonates were recorded from the study area from March to August, 2014. The family Libellulidae with 21 species was the most dominant among the Anisoptera (dragonflies) followed by Gomphidae (2 sp.) and Aeshnidae (1 sp.). Among the Zygoptera (damselflies), the 9 species recorded belong to the family Coenagrionidae. As the area houses 33 species of Odonates including 24 species of Anisoptera and 9 species of Zygoptera, it can be presumed to have a good diversity which may be attributed to the grasslands, shrubs and small water bodies inside the campus.

Keywords: Abundance, diversity, ICAR, India, Meghalaya, Odonates. 1. Introduction Dragonflies and damselflies collectively called Odonates, are one of the most common insects flying over forest, fields, meadows, ponds and rivers. About 6,000 extant species are distributed all over the world. India is highly diverse with more than 500 known species [1]. They are ancient groups of insects, evolved during the Carboniferous era (Permian period) about 250 million years ago. The extant dragonflies are divided into two suborders, the Zygoptera (damselflies) and the Anisoptera (dragonflies). Until recently a third suborder, Anisozygoptera, was recognized with two extant species from Japan and the eastern Himalayas [2]. The Anisozygoptera, which have some features recalling Zygoptera, is a living fossil with two species of which Epiophlebia laidlawi is known from Darjeeling. Odonata fauna of India is known by 3 sub orders, 17 families, 139 genera and 499 species and subspecies [3]. Mitra [4] recorded 499 and later on 463 species were confirmed by Subramanian [5] till date. Many species of damselflies were reported from northeastern part of India but documentation of abundance and distribution is still not known for most of the species in this part of the world. Fraser [6] in his three published volumes on Odonata in the ‘Fauna of British India’ provides documentation of 536 species and subspecies from India with many species from Madhya Pradesh, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Odonates are inextricably linked to waterbodies of various kinds. Some species prefer standing waterbodies like reservoirs, lakes, backwaters, ponds or even seasonal rain water puddles while others prefer running water like rivers, rivulets, hill streams etc. Being supreme predators both during their adult and larval stages, Odonates play crucial role in ecosystem functioning and serve to keep other insects including those harmful to humans (like mosquitoes, blood-sucking flies, etc.) under control. Apart from functioning as predators in the ecosystem, their value as indicators of habitat quality has also been widely appreciated in recent times. Anecdotal observations suggest that some Odonates are so habitat specific that even minor changes can lead to their disappearance [1]. Thus the present study aimed to explore the species richness and diversity of Odonates in different locations of ICAR which might be helpful to pave the way for future research and formulation of an effective strategy for conservation of this important group of insects.

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2. Material and Methods The present study was conducted in ICAR, RC for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India from March to August, 2014 to assess the diversity of Odonates. 2.1 Study Area ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umaim, Meghalaya is located in between 91° 55′ E longitudes and 25° 40′ N latitude in the state of Meghalaya, India. It is located at the height of 1,010 m above mean sea level, which falls in high rainfall area (from 2,239 to 2,953 mm annually). The annual maximum and minimum temperature ranges from 21.1 to 29.2 °C and from 7.0 to 20.9 °C, respectively. 2.2 Survey Method Surveys were conducted throughout the campus to cover all

the habitats. Field notes, photographs (camera: Nikon d5100) and observations were taken during the day light hours. The population trends were monitored during the study period using transects counting method [7]. At each location the same route of inspection was followed each time to reduce the number of variables present and to avoid biasness all the counts were made by the same person. 2.3 Identification Individual images of Odonates were photo-documented and identified by cross-checking with standard references and photo guides of [6, 8, 9, 10, 5, 11]. The relative abundance or say status of individual species is categorized within the campus area as VC-Very Common (> 25 sightings), C-Common (16-25 sightings), O-Occasional (9–15 sightings), R-Rare (5–8 sightings) and VR-Very Rare (< 5 sightings).

Fig 1: Location map of ICAR, Research Complex for NEH Region, Meghalaya, India.

3. Results and Discussion A total of 33 species of Odonates including 24 species of Anisoptera (Dragonflies) and 9 species of Zygoptera (damselflies) were recorded from the ICAR, Research Complex for NEH Region campus, Meghalaya, India (Table

1). The Libellulidae with 21 species was the most dominant family among the Anisoptera followed by Gomphidae (2 sp.) and Aeshnidae (1 sp.). Among the Zygoptera, the 9 species recorded belong to the family Coenagrionidae (Fig 2).

Fig 2: Family wise distribution of Odonates during the study period

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3.1 Species richness and composition The number count method for relative abundance showed that among the 33 species of Odonates recorded, 5 species were

found to be very common, 13 species were common, 10 species wee occasional, 3 species were rare and 2 species were very rare to the study area (Fig. 3).

Fig 3: Relative Abundance of Odonates during the study period 3.2 Species Dominance Among the Anisoptera, Brachythemis contaminate, Diplacodes trivialis, Neurothemis fulvia and Orthetrum Sabina

were the dominant species, whereas among the Zygoptera, Agriocnemis lacteola was the most dominant species encountered.

Table 1: List of Odonates Recorded in ICAR, RC for NEH Region, Meghalaya, India.

Sl. No. Common Name Scientific Name IUCN status [11] Abundance

A Ansioptera (Dragonflies) Family: Gomphidae (Clubtails)

1 Common Clubtail Ictinogomphus rapax LC O 2 Common Hooktail Paragomphus lineatus LC O

Family: Aeshnidae (Darners) 3 Brown Darner Gynacantha dravida DD VR

Family: Libellulidae (Skimmers) 4 Trumpet Tail Acisoma panorpoides LC C 5 Scarlet Marsh Hawk Aethriamanta brevipennis LC C 6 Rufous-backed Marsh Hawk Brachydiplax chalybea LC C 7 Little Blue Marsh Hawk Brachydiplax sobrina LC C 8 Ditch Jewel Brachythemis contaminate LC VC 9 Emerald-Banded Skimmer Cratilla lineata LC C 10 Ruddy Marsh Skimmer Crocothemis servilia C C 11 Black-tipped Ground Skimmer Diplacodes nebulosa LC C 12 Ground Skimmer Diplacodes trivialis LC VC 13 Fulvous Forest Skimmer Neurothemis fulvia LC VC 14 Ruddy Meadow Skimmer Neurothemis intermedia LC R 15 Blue-Tailed Forest Hawk Orthetrum triangulare LC O 16 Blue Marsh Hawk Orthetrum glaucum LC O 17 Crimson-Tailed Marsh Hawk Orthetrum pruinosum LC C 18 Green Marsh Hawk Orthetrum sabina LC VC 19 Blue-Tailed Yellow Skimmer Palpopleura sexmaculata LC O 20 Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens LC O 21 Yellow Tailed Ashy Skimmer Potamarcha congener LC C 22 Rufous Marsh Glider Rhodothemis rufa LC R 23 Picture Wing Rhyothemis variegata LC O 24 Long-Legged Marsh Glider Trithemis pallidinervis LC C B Zygoptera (Damselflies)

Family: Coenagrionidae (Marsh Dart) 25 Green-Striped Slender Dartlet Aciagrion occidentale LC C 26 Pale Slender Dartlet Aciagrion pallidum LC VR 27 Milky Dartlet Agriocnemis lacteola LC VC 28 Pigmy Dartlet Agriocnemis pygmaea LC O 29 Orange-tailed Marsh Dart Ceriagrion cerinorubellum LC O 30 Coromandel Marsh Dart Ceriagrion coromandelianum LC C 31 Orange Marsh Dart Ceriagrion rubiae LC R 32 Black Marsh Dart Onychargia atrocyana LC O 33 Golden Dartlet Ischnura aurora LC C

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Odonates are among the ideal taxon for investigation of the impact of environmental warming and climate change due to its tropical evolutionary history and adaptations to temperate climates [12, 13]. Despite the high importance of Odonates in environmental monitoring, still there is lack of significant effort to explore the diversity and abundance of this insect order in Meghalaya. During the study, it has been found that the institution campus fulfills most of the criteria important for Odonates as it is rich in grassland, shrubs and small water bodies. This study strongly encourages the use of institutional estates in providing habitat facility not only to the Odonates but also to other wildlife as a whole. The data recorded in the present study may prove valuable as a reference for assessing the changes in environmental tools in the locality, in near future. 3.3 Strategy for Conservation Any strategy for conserving Odonates, or indeed any group of animals, must contain three basic elements [11].

1. Establishing Protected Areas (National Parks, nature reserves etc.) and ensuring that activities in existing protected areas are managed appropriately for Odonate conservation.

2. Conserving habitats outside protected areas by modifying agricultural, forestry and industrial procedures.

3. Carrying out measures to support 1 and 2. The principal ones are:

a) Research-notably taxonomy and studies of the distributions and biological requirements of species.

b) Pollution Control c) Legislation-notably to provide protected areas, to control

development and to control pollution. d) Education and raising public awareness

Common Clubtail Trumpet Tail (Ictinogomphus rapax) (Acisoma panorpoides)

Scarlet Marsh Hawk Ground Skimmer (Aethriamanta brevipennis) (Diplacodes trivialis)

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Little Blue Marsh Hawk Ruddy Marsh Skimmer (Brachydiplax sobrina) (Crocothemis servilia)

Fig 4: Photographs of some Dragonflies recorded during the study

Milky Dartlet Pigmy Dartlet (Agriocnemis lacteola) (Agriocnemis pygmaea)

Coromandel Marsh Dart Golden Dartlet (Ceriagrion coromandelianum) (Ischnura aurora)

Fig 5: Photographs of some Damselflies recorded during the study

4. Acknowledgement The authors are thankful to the Director, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India for encouragement and necessary facilities.

5. References 1. Nair MV. Dragonflies & Damselflies of Orissa and

Eastern India. Wildlife Organisation, Forest & Environment Department, Government of Orissa. Jyoti Graphics, Bhubaneswar, India, 2011, 254.

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2. Kalkman VJ, Clausnitzer V, Dijkstra KB, Albert GO, Paulson DR, Tol JV. Global diversity of dragonflies (Odonata) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia 2008; 595:351-363.

3. Prasad M, Varshney RK. A check list of the Odoanta of India including data on larval studies. Oriental Insects 1995; 29:385-428.

4. Mitra TR. Evolutionary Adaptations in Morphology and Ecology of Tholymis Tilliyard (Faricius) and Bradinopyga geminata (Rambur) (Insecta: Odonata). Records of Zoological Survey of India 2005; 104(1-2):300.

5. Subramanian KA. India-A Lifescape, Dragonflies of India - A Field Guide. Vigyan Prasar. India Offset Press, New Delhi, 2005, 118.

6. Fraser FC. The Fauna of British-India including Ceylon and Burma, Odonata. Vol. I. Taylor and Francis Ltd., London, 1933, 436.

7. Barhaum KP, Anderson DR, Cauke ZL. Estimation of density from line transects sampling of biological population. WILD 1980-1981; Monograph No. 72:515.

8. Fraser FC. The Fauna of British-India including Ceylon and Burma, Odonata. Vol 2, Taylor and Francis Ltd., London, 1934, 442.

9. Fraser FC. The Fauna of British-India including Ceylon and Burma, Odonata. Vol 3, Taylor and Francis Ltd., London, 1936, 461.

10. Subramanian KA. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Peninsular India - A Field Guide. Vigyan Prasar, Noida, India, 2009, 168.

11. Moore NW. Dragonflies- Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Odonata Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK, 1997, 28.

12. Hassall C, Thompson DJ, Harvey IF. Latitudinal variation in morphology in two sympatric damselfly species with contrasting range dynamics (Odonata: Coenagrionidae). European Journal of Entomology 2008; 105:939-944.

13. Nesemann H, Shah RT, Shah DN. Key to the larval stages of common Odonata of Hindu Kush Himalaya, with short notes on habitats and ecology. Journal of threatened Taxa 2011; 3(9):2045-2060.