Rare dragonfly spotted in Western Ghats

MALAPPURAM: Proving that the Western Ghats is still an underexplored region in terms of its biodiversity, a group of scientists has discovered a tree hole breeding dragonfly, in the silent valley region. Researchers claim that presence of the insect, Lyriothemis tricolor, is being reported the first time in Indian subcontinent.
The study, which appears in the latest issue of the Journal of Threatened Taxa, says that field studies conducted at the Silent Valley National Park, New Amarambalam Reserve Forest, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (SABS) and Thattekkad of the Western Ghats, has revealed that the species uses tree holes of evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of the Ghats as a larval habitat.
The studies were conducted during December 2009 - April 2013 period. In 2010, larvae of the species were collected from the silent valley and New Amarambalam.
However their presence was confirmed after an adult female specimen of species was collected from Anachathapara area of the sanctuary, during a survey at SABS, on April 3, 2013.
The study says a freshly-emerged female specimen with exuvia was sighted on a tree in a semi-evergreen forest, interspersed with mahogany and teak plantations, in an area very close to the Boothathankettu Dam.
The study was conducted by Anoop Das, assistant professor at the Centre for Conservation Ecology, department of Zoology, M E S College, Mampad along with scientists from Zoological Survey of India, Subramanian, Emiliyamma, Jafer Palot and K A Nishadh of Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History.
Anoop Das said that many species of dragon flies were known to use water-filled tree holes as a breeding habitat.
However, no species are known to breed in tree holes in India. It is the first report of the species in the sub-continent.
"The finding reveals that Lyriothemis tricolor breeds in tree holes of evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of the southern Western Ghats.
The study also shows the importance of least known habitats for biodiversity conservation," Anoop Das said.