The Western Ghats or 'Sahyadris' is home to some very Threatened Endemic Odonates of the Western Ghats unique flora, fauna and fungi. Sahyadri's freshwater ecosystem and biodiversity are highly diverse supporting Order Odonata Burmagomphus laidlawi DD Macromia indica DD

| | Damselflies livelihoods, providing invaluable ecosystem services and The Sahyãdri Chlorogomphidae Gomphidia fletcheri DD Macromia irata LC

Research Education Conservation Chlorogomphus campioni DD Heliogomphus kalarensis DD sustaining more than 400 million people in the world's Chlorogomphus xanthoptera VU Heliogomphus promelas NT Platystictidae highest concentration of humans in a biodiversity hotspot. Macrogomphus wynaadicus DD Platysticta deccanensis VU Coenagrionidae Megalogomphus hannyngtoni NT Protosticta antelopoides DD Dragonflies and Damselflies are common insects seen Agriocnemis keralensis LC Merogomphus longistigma DD Protosticta davenporti LC around us flying over water bodies, forests and fields. Ceriagrion rubiae DD Microgomphus souteri LC Protosticta gravelyi LC Onychogomphus malabarensis DD Protosticta hearseyi DD Both the groups together are termed odonates. The life Cordulidae Onychogomphus nilgiriensis LC Protosticta rufostigma LC Odonates Coenagrionidae history of odonates are closely linked to freshwater Platycnemididae Idionyx corona DD Protosticta sanguinostigma VU habitats and the welfare of odonates is very important Pseudagrion malabaricum Copera marginipes Idionyx galeata NT Lestidae since they form an important indicator in freshwater Protoneuridae Idionyx nadganiensis DD Indolestes pulcherrimus DD Protoneuridae Disparoneura apicalis Idionyx nilgiriensis DD Lestes malabaricus NE Caconeura gomphoides DD ecosystems. To help them survive, it is essential that we Idionyx periyashola DD Lestes patricia NE Caconeura t-coerulea DD learn more about them. Chlorocyphidae Idionyx rhinoceroides LC Disparoneura apicalis VU Macromidia donaldi LC Libellulidae Elattoneura nigerrima DD

h The Libellago lineata A Dragonfly’s life is spent mostly in the larval stage as the Epithemis mariae LC Elattoneura souteri DD Euphaeidae Tramea eurybia NE Elattoneura tetrica LC larval development varies from the common one or two Euphaea dispar LC Esme cyaneovittata DD years to as many as six years. During that period it molts Sahyãdri Euphaea fraseri LC Macromiidae Esme longistyla LC from six to fifteen times. The nymph molts one last time, Macromia annaimallaiensis LC Esme mudiensis DD crawls up out of the water and emerges from its old skin as Gomphidae Macromia bellicosa LC Melanoneura bilineata NT an adult with functional wings. Acrogomphus fraseri DD Macromia cingulata LC Phylloneura westermanni NT Asiagomphus nilgiricus DD Macromia ellisoni LC Burmagomphus cauvericus DD Macromia ida LC Potential issues for the absence of these insects in a water Red List Categories: EX-Extinct; EW-Extinct in the Wild; CR-Critically Endangered; EN-Endangered; VU-Vulnerable; body, could be pesticides, excessive nutrients from ODONATES agricultural runoff, siltation, contaminates from human NT-Near Threatened; LC-Least Concern; DD-Data Deficient. Euphaeidae settlements and industry. Dysphaea ethela How can you tell a Dragonfly from a Damselfly ? Protoneuridae Protoneuridae This fold-out is a small section of dragonflies and  Disparoneura apicalis Caconeura ramburi All odonates share certain characteristics: four membranous wings, small antennae and large eyes. damselflies of the Western Ghats that has been assessed Coenagrionidae for their IUCN Red List status. For more information see Aciagrion pallidum Conversely, there are clear differences between dragonflies and damselflies. Refer Table to distinguish http://www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/RL-540-001.pdf dragonflies and damselflies.

Series Editors Number of species of odonata in each Red List category Sanjay Molur and B.A. Daniel Red List Category No. species % Reviewer Extinct 0 0.0 Ashish Tiple Extinct in the Wild 0 0.0 Photo Credits Lestidae Critically Endangered 0 0.0 Ashish Tiple and *Francy Kakkassery Lestes viridulus Endangered 0 0.0 Layout Vulnerable 4 3.2 R. Pravin Kumar and Latha Ravikumar Near Threatened 6 4.8 Calopterygidae Coenagrionidae Least Concern 115 92

Produced by WILD in collaboration with ZOO Vestalis apicalis Ischnura aurora Data Deficient 46 N/A through a grant from Friends of Total 171 Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) TARGET Email: [email protected] ZOO/WILD Fold-out #2 - Sep2013 Dragonflies

Libellulidae Libellulidae Rhyothemis variegata Libellulidae Brachydiplax sobrina Orthetrum luzonicum Libellulidae Libellulidae Tholymis tillarga Libellulidae Rhyothemis variegata Brachydiplax sobrina

Species richness of Odonates in the Western Ghats assessment region Aeshnidae Anax parthenope Gomphidae Libellulidae Ictinogomphus rapax Trithemis aurora Libellulidae Libellulidae

Brachythemis contaminata Brachythemis contaminata Conservation status of the Western Ghats Libellulidae Odonates Palpopleura sexmaculata All the threatened species are exclusively found in hill streams or high altitude shola grasslands of the southern Western Ghats Hotspot.

As per the assessment report all the threatened species are exclusively found in the forested hill streams or high altitude shola grasslands of the southern Western Ghats. Odonate fauna of this region is comprised of 174 species with 69 endemics. If an animal or plant species natural home (habitat) is restricted to one particular area or space on the globe, it is known as endemic species. About 56 endemic species have been assessed for Libellulidae Gomphidae Libellulidae Macromiidae conservation status using the IUCN Red List Libellulidae Neurothemis tullia Corduliidae Paragomphus lineatus Libellulidae Trithemis pallidinervis Epophthalmia vittata Categories and Criteria. Neurothemis tullia Hemicordulia asiatica Pantala flavescens