Dragonflies

IASbaba

September 27, 2022

Environment & Ecology

Context: A survey of dragonflies and damselflies at Delhi’s biodiversity parks indicates that low rainfall this year may have impacted their life cycles and numbers.

In a week-long survey that concluded recently, a total of 25 species of dragonflies and damselflies were recorded across the biodiversity parks and the Kamla Nehru Ridge.

On August 18 every year, the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-India) and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) commemorates Dragonfly Day in New Delhi and its surrounding areas.

What are Dragonflies?

It is an aerial predator insect most commonly found near freshwater habitats throughout most of the world.
Their distinctive colors make them look beautiful. This makes them valuable subjects for research on insect behavior, both for ecology and art.
Habitat:
- Most species of dragonflies live in the tropics and particularly in the rainforests.
Significance:
- Dragonflies are important to their environments both as predators (particularly of mosquitos) and as prey to birds and fish. Because these insects require stable oxygen levels and clean water, scientists consider them reliable bioindicators of the health of an ecosystem.
- Dragonflies are essential bio-indicators of an area’s ecological health. Because they eat mosquitoes and other insects that transmit life-threatening diseases like Malaria and Dengue Fever.
Threats:
- The rapid destruction of their habitat poses a direct threat to their survival making their conservation urgent.

Key Findings of the survey:

The Kamla Nehru Ridge recorded the maximum number of species – 25.
The Yamuna Biodiversity Park recorded 23 species, a little less than the 25 species recorded in 2018.
In terms of the number of individuals recorded, the Kalindi Biodiversity Park recorded the highest number at 3,348, followed by the Aravalli Biodiversity Park where 555 individuals were counted.
The Neela Hauz biodiversity park also recorded a fewer number of species this year – just six – as compared to 2018, when nine species were counted.
Species that were recorded include the Scarlet Skimmer, Picture Wing dragonfly and the Granite Ghost along with dragons mentioned below.(in pictures)

Recent other discoveries of Dragonflies:

Recently, Dragonfly enthusiasts have recorded the presence of a rare dragonfly species named “Spiny Horntail” that was not seen in Kerala until now.
- The Western Ghats are home to this species, which was discovered in Maharashtra earlier this year.