New records of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

 

Pankaj Koparde 1, Prachi Mhaske 2 & Ankur Patwardhan 3

 

1,2,3 Department of Biodiversity, MES’s Abasaheb Garware College, Karve Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411004, India

1 pankajkoparde@gmail.com    (corresponding author), 2 prachi.mhaske13@gmail.com  3 ankurpatwardhan@gmail.com

 

 

 

Abstract: Odonates were surveyed across 10 localities from Western Ghats of Maharashtra State, India during 2011–2013.  We recorded 64 species belonging to 40 genera and 12 families.  Seven species are new records for the region, and four out of them are new records for Maharashtra State.  In this paper, we discuss these species records and their micro-habitats, and update previous knowledge on distribution of odonates.

 

Keywords: Distribution, ecological indicator, micro-habitat, northern Western Ghats, Odonata.

 

 

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3402.5744-54   |  ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6A4BE843-51F8-4E5A-A89F-07F9A13209B8

 

Editor: K.A. Subramanian, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India.        Date of publication:26 May 2014 (online & print)

 

Manuscript details: Ms # o3402 | Received 07 November 2012 | Final received 15 May 2014 | Finally accepted 16 May 2014

 

Citation: Koparde, P., P. Mhaske & A. Patwardhan (2014).New records of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa6(5): 5744–5754; http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3402.5744-54

 

Copyright: © Koparde et al. 2014. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication.

 

Funding: Indian Space Research Organization under ISRO-UoP interaction program (2011-2013).

 

Competing Interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

 

Acknowledgements: The present study was supported under the ISRO–UoP initiative. We thank Dr. M.C. Uttam, Director, ISRO-UoP for his encouragement and Dr. K.A. Subramanian, ZSI-Kolkata who was always helpful in confirming the identification of the specimens.  We also thank the Principle Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial and Wildlife wing), Maharashtra. Personal thanks are also due to Mr. Mohan Karnat, CF (WL), Kolhapur, Mr. Zure (ACF, Chandoli NP), Mr. Mane (RFO, Chandoli NP), and Mr. Nikam (RFO, Patan) and other ground level forest department staff for their help. We also thank the Principal, Abasaheb Garware College, Pune, for his support. Field level support and assistance from Ms. Apoorva Sahastrabuddhe, Mr. Rakesh Deulkar, Mr. Abhishek Narvekar, Ms. Priti Bangal, Ms. Monali Mhaskar, Ms. Prajakta Pathare, Mrs. Medhavi Tadwalkar-Rajwade, Ms. Amruta Joglekar is gratefully acknowledged. We also thank the anonymous referees for their critical comments.

 

 

For figures, images, tables -- click here

 

 

Odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) are freshwater insects, often used as indicator taxa in biodiversity studies (Subramanian 2005; Córdoba-Aguilar 2008; Subramanian et al. 2008).  Records of these insects on a spatiotemporal scale are useful to understand micro-habitat quality and/or land-use change.  Although it is relatively difficult to identify odonates on field, availability of photographic field-guides (Emiliyamma et al. 2005; Subramanian 2005; Andrew et al. 2008; Nair 2011; Kiran & Raju 2013), web-portals (Asia Dragonfly 2014), blogs and forums (DragonflyIndia 2014) have made it an easier task.  As a consequence, more and more people are now getting interested in recording species from different regions across India.

Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka, one of the global biodiversity hotspots (Myers et al. 2000), are known to support number of Odonata species.   Around 174 species have been recorded from Western Ghats of India alone, comprising 56 endemics to the region (Subramanian et al. 2011). Although Odonata fauna of Western Ghats is well-documented (Fraser 1924, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936; Emiliyamma & Radhakrishnan 2000, 2002; Radhakrishnan & Emiliyamma 2003; Emiliyamma 2005; Subramanian & Sivaramkrishan 2005; Subramanian 2007; Rangnekar et al. 2010; Subramanian et al. 2011; Emiliyamma et al. 2012; Das et al. 2013; Emiliyamma et al. 2013; Kulkarni & Subramanian 2013; Subramanian et al. 2013; Rangnekar & Naik 2014), certain parts are still under-explored.  The northern Western Ghats (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and northwestern Karnataka) are one of the under-explored areas in terms of documentation of Odonata fauna.  These areas are characterized by highly fragmented forest cover.  Most of the Western Ghats endemic odonates are known to be associated with closed forested areas with streams (Subramanian et al. 2011).  Such habitats are often good quality forested areas. Therefore, documenting fauna from such regions is highly important as it helps fill the knowledge gap about distribution of species, which may have conservation implications.  Odonata fauna of northwestern Karnataka and Goa is relatively well-explored (Prasad 1995; Subramanian 2007; Kulkarni & Talmale 2008; Subramanian et al. 2008; Yadav et al. 2008; Rangnekar et al. 2010; Subramanian et al. 2013; Rangnekar & Naik 2014) as compared to Maharashtra and Gujarat; however the region still lacks considerable data on spatial distribution and diversity of odonates.  As per Kulkarni et al. (2012), 101 Odonata species have been reported from Maharashtra; however, very few studies have looked into Odonata fauna of Western Ghats of Maharashtra (WGM) (Fraser 1924, 1933, 1934, 1936; Aland et al. 2012; Sathe & Bhusnar 2010; Kulkarni & Subramanian 2013). According to Fraser (1924, 1933, 1934, 1936); Subramanian (2005); Rangnekar et al. (2010) and Rangnekar & Naik (2014); northern distributional limit of many Western Ghats endemic species has been reported to be either south-west Maharashtra or northern Goa.  However this is most probably an artefact of sampling.  To explore possibility of finding endemic species of conservation concern in southwestern and centralwestern Maharashtra, we carried out a survey of odonates.  This paper updates knowledge on the distribution of odonates, partially documents morphological data, and comments on spatial distribution of the species and threats associated with them.

 

Materials and Methods

Study area: The study area falls in central-west and south-west Maharashtra.  The study area includes Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR), a recently declared tiger reserve which lies between 17.33’–17.83’N & 73.58’–73.875’E, Amboli (15.964722’N & 74.003567’E, 787m), Parpoli (15.950389’N & 73.958056’E, 130m) and Verle (15.987639’N & 73.970472’E, 754m) villages.  The crow-flight distance between STR and localities in and around Amboli is around 128km (Google Inc. 2013).  STR lies in centralwestern Maharashtra; whereas Amboli, Parpoli and Verle are from southwestern Maharashtra. Administrative boundary of STR is spread across Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Ratnagiri districts, and comprises of Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary (Koyna WS), Chandoli National Park (Chandoli NP) and corridor joining both these protected areas.  Amboli, Parpoli and Verle villages are a part of Sindhudurg District of Maharashtra.  The landscape of STR is patchy in terms of forest cover and mainly consists of moist-deciduous to evergreen forests.  Six localities from STR, one from Koyna WS and corridor area each and four from Chandoli NP were studied during the survey (Fig. 1). The landscape of Amboli, Parpoli and Verle villages is mainly composed of semi-evergreen forests.  A number of perennial streams flow across these villages passing through a variety of land-use, offering ideal habitats for odonates.  The temperature range of the study area is between 13–35 0C. The study area experiences three distinct seasons—summer (February–June), monsoon (July–August), winter (September–January).  Hiranyekeshi River in Amboli, two streams in Parpoli Village of which one flows across agricultural land (Parpoli 1) and the other across moist deciduous forest (Parpoli 2), and an open stream that flows nearby Verle Village (Fig. 1) were surveyed.

Data collection: Odonates were recorded opportunistically during October 2011 to April 2013.  Species were recorded during random walks along streams, and shores of water-reservoirs and rivers between 0800–1300hr.  Sampling was carried out throughout the year, except during monsoon.  A 8x40 binocular was used to observe the insects. Individual records were geo-referenced using a Garmin GPS Map 60.  Odonates were identified using field guides (Subramanian 2005; Nair 2011) and taxonomy monographs (Fraser 1933, 1934, 1936).  Web-forums (Asia-dragonfly 2014; Dragonflyindia 2014) were accessed for finding spatial data in public domain. Scientific names and authorities follow Subramanian (2009).  For records from Maharashtra, Fraser (1924, 1932) and reviews by Tiple (2012) and Kulkarni et al. (2012) were consulted. Photographs of wing venation and anal appendages were taken for specimens, which were difficult to identify on field.  No specimens were collected except for two species, viz., Protosticta hearseyi Fraser, 1922 (single male) and Coorg Bambootail Caconeura ramburi Fraser, 1922 (single female).  Both the specimens were hand-picked and dry preserved to confirm the identification by using stereoscopy.  The specimens were sent to Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta for identification confirmation.  Measurements were taken using a digital vernier calliper.

 

Results

1. Odonata fauna of the study area: Sixty-four species belonging to 40 genera, spread across 12 families were recorded during the survey (Annexure 1). Sub-order Anisoptera was represented by 38 species, and 26 species represented sub-order Zygoptera. Libellulidae was the best represented family followed by Coenagrionidae and Aeshnidae. The list contains seven new spatial records for WGM, which include four Zygopteran members, viz., P. hearseyi, C. ramburi, Malabar Torrent-Dart Euphaea fraseri (Laidlaw, 1920) and Yellow-striped Blue-Dart Pseudagrion indicum Fraser, 1924, and three Anisopteran members, viz., Blue Hawklet Hylaeothemis indica Fraser, 1943, Nilgiri ClawtailOnychogomphus nilgiriensis Fraser, 1922 and Indian Lyretail Heliogomphus promelas (Selys, 1873).  Out of these seven, four species are new records for Maharashtra State. The list contains two Near Threatened species, viz., Heliogomphus promelas and Blue Ground-Skimmer Indothemis carnatica (Fabricius, 1798).

2. Field notes on new species records:

i. Protosticta hearseyi Fraser, 1922 (Platystictidae): Eight individuals were sighted on a belt-transect of 500x10 m in moist-deciduous forest of Bahe Village (Table 1, Fig. 1 and Image 1A).  All eight individuals were observed to be perched on dry twigs or flying weakly 1–2 m above ground when disturbed.  Eye coloration was blue above and pale blue below separated by horizontal thick brown ring. Pterostigma was dark brown.  The collected male specimen showed 17 post-nodal nervures in fore-wingsand 15 in hind-wings.  Segment (S) eight of abdomen was turquoise blue with a dorsal black stripe dividing the blue patch.  Anal appendages were dark brown.  Superior anal appendages were typical ‘finger-thumb’ shaped.

ii. Caconeura ramburi (Fraser, 1922) (Platycnemididae): A single female specimen was sighted at Chandel and Rundiv forest-beats each (Table 1, Fig. 1, Image 1B).  Both individuals were slow moving.  In another instance, five individuals, including three males, were recorded on a 500x10 m belt-transect laid in moist-deciduous forest of Bahe Village (Table 1, Image 1C).  Eyes of male specimens were azure blue with a black cap.  Abdominal segments were black marked with blue basal rings except for S1, S8 and S9 which were prominently azure blue.  Thorax of collected female specimen was greenish yellow marked with black stripes dorsally and laterally, and yellow ventrally.  Eyes were dark brown above and greenish laterally and ventrally.  The female specimen showed 16–19 post-nodal nervures in fore-wings and 17–20 post-nodal nervures in hind-wings.

iii. Euphaea fraseri (Laidlaw, 1920) (Euphaeidae): One male and two females were sighted at Chandel forest-beat on a 500x10 m transect (Table 1, Images 1 D,E).  All the insects were basking in the sunlight and occasionally darting to catch prey.  Male was bright red colored with black patches at the tips of hind wings covering around one fourth area of hind-wings.  Eyes were dark brown dorsally and laterally, fading to grey ventrally.  The abdomen was bright red except S7–S10 which were black.  The females were yellow, with black dorsal streaking on abdomen. S7–S10 were dark brown to black as compared to rest of the segments.  Eyes were dark brown above, grey below.  Thorax was yellow with black stripes.  A single female was sighted at Tanali forest-beat on a 120x10 m transect.  The species was also sighted at Amboli, Parpoli and Verle (Table 1).  Stream 2 of Parpoli Village showed dense population of the species.  Seventeen individuals including sixteen males and one female were recorded on a 50x10 m transect.  A male that was hand-pickedshowed 17 ante-nodal nervures in fore-wings and 29–33 post-nodal nervures in fore-wings.

iv. Pseudagrion indicum Fraser, 1924 (Coenagrionidae): Two male specimens, two mating pairs and a female specimen were sighted at Amboli and Verle respectively (Table 1, Image 1F).  The species was also sighted at Vakoli and Kalambe villages.  The male specimen was black in color marked with blue.  Eyes were with a dark brown cap, greenish laterally and ventrally. Thorax was blue marked with greenish-yellow dorsal thoracic stripes.  Abdomen was dorsally matt black.  S8 and S9 were blue marked with black apical ring.

v. Hylaeothemis indica Fraser, 1946 (Libellulidae): A male specimen was sighted in moist-deciduous forest of Bahe (Table 1, Image 1G).  The insect was perching on dry twigs and flying over and around a stream. The insect was black marked with blue.  Blue mid-dorsal thoracic stripes, blue eyes, black legs, and blue stripes on black abdomen were few of the field characters which the insect showed.

vi. Onychogomphus nilgiriensis (Fraser, 1922) (Gomphidae): A single male specimen was sighted at Parpoli and Verle respectively (Table 1, Image 1 H,I).  The insect was found to be perching on rocks and foraging over and around the stream.  Greenish-blue eyes, black abdomen marked with yellow, claw shaped anal appendages, black legs, and characteristic thoracic markings were primary determinants of the species level identification.

vii. Heliogomphus promelas(Selys, 1873) (Gomphidae): A single male specimen was sighted in moist-deciduous forest of Bahe (Table 1, Images 1 J,K).  The insect was foraging over and around a stream and occasionally perching on twigs.  The insect was black marked with yellow.  The S7 was with a broad basal yellow ring, covering approximately one third of the segment (Image 1K), which is the key to the species. This character separates it from H. kalarensis, another Western Ghat endemic belonging to the same genus. All abdominal segments were black in color marked with yellow basal rings except for S8–S10.  Eyes were bottle green in color.  Frons was marked with a pale yellow horizontal stripe (Image 1J).  Superior anal appendages were pale yellow and of diagnostic lyre shaped.

 

Discussion and Conclusions

The present study recorded 64 species from WGM covering around 62% of Odonata fauna of the state (Tiple 2012; Kulkarni et al. 2012), and adding four species to the checklist of the state.  The study does not necessarily provide a checklist of the region as the sampling was opportunistic and does not adequately cover the seasonal and climatic variation shown by species assemblages.  However, during this preliminary survey, we encountered new distributional records for seven Odonata species, out of which four species are new records for Maharashtra State.  Four species out of these seven are Data Deficient (IUCN 2014).  The prime reason behind this categorization is lack of recent information.  This may be due to inadequate or lack of sampling by experts in regions (IUCN 2014), where these species are endemic.  Moreover, relatively low number of scientific studies exploring Odonata fauna of northern Western Ghats of India might have created knowledge gap in our understanding of geographical distribution of these species.

Members of Platystictidae, Platycnemididae and Euphaeidae are restricted to closed canopy forested streams, streams with dense riparian vegetation, and/or forested landscape (Subramanian 2005; Subramanian et al. 2008).  More than 70% species belonging to these families that occur in India are endemic to Western Ghats (Subramanian 2007). P.hearseyi, a Western Ghats endemic species (Subramanian 2007), is known from Nilgiri, Annamalai and Travancore (Fraser 1933); Kerala (Emiliyamma et al. 2005); southwestern region of Karnataka (Subramanian et al. 2008) and Goa (Rangnekar et al. 2010).  According to Tiple (2012), Protosticta gravely Laidlaw, 1915 which represents Protosticta genus has been recorded from Maharashtra, but not P. hearseyi.  Our sighting location falls approximately 195km (Google Inc. 2013) north from hitherto known northern most sighting location by Rangnekar et al. (2010).  The measured abdominal size of the P. hearseyi male specimen (Table 2) was more than the one (30–35 mm) given by Fraser (1933).  The post-nodal index provided by Fraser (1933) was smaller than the observed.  This might be due to individual variation, and instrumental measurement variation or accuracy differences.  According to Subramanian (2007), C. ramburi is a Western Ghats endemic species.  The species is known from Western Ghats south of Uttarakannada District of Karnataka (Subramanian 2005), Goa (Rangnekar & Naik 2014), and from some parts of Eastern Ghats (Nair 2011, Das et al. 2012).  The species has been recently recorded from Pench National Park and Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve of Madhya-Pradesh (Tiple & Chandra 2013) and from Vidarbha region of Maharashtra i.e., north-east Maharashtra (Tiple et al. 2013).  Given recent records of the species on a wider scale, it can be said that the species may not be a Western Ghats endemic; but a wide-spread and under-explored species.E. fraseri is endemic to Western Ghats (Kakkasery 2011a).  The northernmost records of the species in the Western Ghats include Savri Waterfalls, Dudhsagar, Paytale, Sada, Cotigao and Derode localities of Goa (Rangnekar et al. 2010); Kali River, Uttarakannada, Karnataka (Yadav et al. 2008); southwestern Karnataka (Subramanian et al. 2008).  There are formal records of E. fraseri from Phansad WS, Raigad, Maharashtra (DragonflyIndia 2013; K.A. Subramanian 2013 pers. comm.) which is further north to STR.  Given this potential distribution, it can be speculated that E. fraseri might be continuously distributed across WGM, perhaps till northern tip of WGM. P. indicum, a species endemic to Western Ghats (Subramanian 2005, 2007), is known from Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu; Kodagu and Chikmagalur, Karnataka (Subramanian 2005) and Darode locality of Goa (Rangnekar et al. 2010).  Kulkarni & Subramanian (2013) quote the species’ presence at Tamhini Ghat, Pune, Maharashtra based on a single specimen.  The species has also been recorded from eastern region of Bangladesh (Chowdhury & Mohiuddin 2011).  The record from Bangladesh is doubtful as the species was seen only once during 1994–2000 and it might be a wrong taxonomic identification. This suggests that rigorous sampling is needed to delimit distributional ranges of species, especially if they are endemic to a specific area or region.

Libellulidae and Gomphidae are well-distributed Anisopteran members across Indian subcontinent, with few species restricted to Western Ghats and/or north-eastIndia (Fraser 1934, 1936; Subramanian 2005).  Two species belonging to Libellulidae and eighteen species belonging to Gomphidae are known to be endemic to Western Ghats (Subramanian 2007).  Many researchers have quoted Hylaeothemis indica as Fruhstorfer’s Junglewatcher Hylaeothemis fruhstorferi Karsch (1889), creating confusion in distributional records. The former species is known to occur in India (Dow 2009a), whereas the latter one is found in Sri Lanka (Dow 2009b). H. indicais widespread across Indian subcontinent (Dow 2009a).  It is known from the Western Ghats (Subramanian 2005); Nilgiri Hills, Wynaad, Annaimallai Hills, Coorg and Travancore (Fraser 1946); Ujani Wetland Reserve, Maharashtra (Kulkarni & Prasad 2002); Kolhapur district, Maharashtra (Sathe & Bhusnar 2010); Sada and Paytale, Goa (Rangnekar et al. 2010); and Arunachal Pradesh (Lahiri 1985).  H. indicais known to breed in the seepages from marshes along the banks of mountain streams at altitude above 610m (Fraser 1936).  Record by Kulkarni & Prasad (2002) from Ujani wetland might be doubtful given the habitat requirements of the species.  Lahiri (1985) record might most probably be H. gardeneriwhich is known from Himalaya (Fraser 1936), and Uttaranchal and Arunachal Pradesh (Subramanian & Dow 2010).  O. nilgiriensisis a Western Ghats endemic species (Subramanian 2007) and is known only from southern Western Ghats, the northern-most range being Dharmastala, Dakshinkannada, Karnataka (Subramanian 2005, 2011).  Although the known flight season of the species is April–June (Subramanian 2009), we recorded the species in the month of October, which may be due to bioclimatic variations.  H. promelas, a Near Threatened species (Kakkasery 2011b), is known from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka (Fraser 1934), Goa (Rangnekar et al. 2010) and Orissa (Nair 2011).  The categorization of the species under threatened category is due to the fact that the species is rare and known from eight locations across Western Ghats till date, only three of them being the recent records (Kakkasery 2011b). According to Nair 2011, the peak flight period of the species is known to be only four months in monsoon (May–June and August–September).  The generally mountainous, undulating terrain of Western Ghats becomes unapproachable during these months, limiting the sampling.  This might be one of the reasons behind lack of knowledge on distribution of the species.

All the new records of species were found associated with closed forested streams.  Within a larger landscape, stream connectivity generally allows dispersal of odonates, spreading them across the landscape.  Habitat fragmentation, water pollution and diversion of water can be seen as main causal agents restricting the movement of Odonata larvae, delimiting the distribution of adults.  A review by Subramanian et al. (2011) points agricultural pollution and urban and industrial development as major threats to Odonata fauna of Western Ghats.  As northern Western Ghats are already highly patchy in terms of forest cover, further fragmentation is harmful for Odonata population to survive.  This calls for conservation of closed forested streams and micro-habitatssupporting such systems.  All four new records for Maharashtra, has already been recorded from Goa (Rangnekar et al. 2010; Rangnekar & Naik 2014) suggesting that the current species distribution knowledge is restricted because of lack of surveys in WGM.  Amboli, which is at the southern tip of Maharashtra and in continuity with forests of Goa is supposed to have similar species composition as that of Goa. However, we recorded only E. Fraseri and O. nilgiriensisat Amboli.  It is highly likely thatP. hearseyi and H. promelas as well as other endemic species recorded from Goa might be present at Amboli, which we failed to detect due to opportunistic sampling.  Current tourism pressure on closed forested streams of Amboli and nearby areas is high and can be detrimental to habitat sensitive species. Closed forested localities of STR are hotspots for endemic Odonata fauna. H. promelas,C. ramburi. P. hearseyi were  observed at Bahe locality that lies in corridor zone of STR, joining Koyna WS and Chandoli NP.  The forests at Bahe village and nearby areas which are listed in buffer area of STR, are under high pressure of forest felling due to anthropogenic pressure.  E. fraseri,C. ramburi, P. indicum were observed in Amboli and STR, suggesting that closed forested areas with streams between STR and Amboli, such as Radhanagari WS and reserved forests in Sahyadri-Konkan corridor might be supporting these species.  The published and informal records of E. fraseri across WGM suggest that the species might be present in forests of Mahabaleshwar and Tamhini, which also have semi-evergreen and evergreen forest patches remaining.  Having said this, data obtained systematically on micro-habitat correlates, species assemblages and occupancy of climatic space by them may provide much more realistic insights into distribution of these species.

More number of systematic studies in north-west and central-west Maharashtra and in Western Ghats of Gujarat are likely to shed light on actual distribution of Western Ghats endemic odonates.  The species records presented in this paper suggest that even opportunistic records of crepuscular and enigmatic species are useful in understanding distributional ranges, potential areas of species’ presence, and species’ biology in general, especially when the species recorded are underexplored.

 

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