Check List 10(5): 1104–1109, 2014 © 2014 Check List and Authors Chec List ISSN 1809-127X (available at www.checklist.org.br) Journal of species lists and distribution PECIES S OF Dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of * ISTS L Chhattisgarh, India Prosenjit Dawn and Kailash Chandra [email protected] Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhavan, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700053, West Bengal, India. * Corresponding author. E-mail: Abstract: Cyclogomphus heterostylus Macrogomphus seductus The presentZygonyx study on iris the iris Odonata (Insecta) of Chhattisgarh, India, documents eighty-five species including thirteen new records to the state. Three species — Selys, 1854, Fraser, 1926 (Gomphidae) and Selys, 1869 (Libellulidae) — are recorded for the first time from central India. The paper discusses the geographical and habitat-wise distribution of Odonata of Chhattisgarh. DOI: 10.15560/10.5.1104 Introduction Survey were conducted seasonally mainly in pre-monsoon (January to May) and monsoon (June to September). The order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), handpicking. Collected specimens were killed by gently comprising three suborders Anisoptera, Anisozygoptera pressingSpecimens the were thorax collected and keptusing dry butterfly in insect net envelope and by recordedand Zygoptera representing are one of8% ancient of the group world of knownInsects. speciesWithin India, 463 species belonging to 140 genera have been collected specimens were examined under Leica EZ4 HD and very important biocontrol agents for insect pests Binocularand processed Microscope for preservation and Leica Stereo and identification. Zoom Microscope The (Subramanian 2009). The larvae and adults are predatory shown that they are good indicators of ecosystem health and(Khaliq ideal 2002). surrogate Moreover, taxa studies for identifyingacross the worldfreshwater have (Leica M205A). Smaller damselfly specimens were biodiversity hotspots for conservation (Hart et al. examined and kept in 70% ethanol after identification. depositedSpecies were in National identified Zoological following Collections keys of Fraser of Zoological (1933, 2014). 1934, 1936) and Mitra (2002). Identified specimens were Odonata diversity is quite known from the Central India; however the information on protected areas Survey of India, Kolkata. and protecteddistricts of areas Chhattisgarh in different was seasons scanty. to This assess survey the was carried out from 2011–2013 in different districts Odonata diversity of this state. Previous studies on fromOdonate which fauna Chhattisgarh of this state was were carved partly out done in 2000. along Mitra with few protected areas and districts of Madhya Pradesh (1995) recorded 22 species of Odonata from Indravati Tiger Reserve, Bastar. Prasad (1996) reported 66 species of Odonates from Bastar district. Mishra (2007) documented 70 species from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh which was updated to 106 species recently (Tiple and Chandra, 2013). This present paper deals areaswith theof Chhattisgarh. Odonata specimens collected, observed and studied during survey of few Districts and Protected Materials and Methods The present study was carried out in connection with the projects entitled “Faunal Diversity of Protected Areas of Chhattisgarh” and “District-Wise Faunal Diversity of Chhattisgarh” funded by Chhattisgarh, CAMPA, Govt. of India. The survey was done through extensive collection of Odonata specimens, direct observation and photographic Figure 1. Map of Chhattisgarh showing the study area. record in 8 districts and 6 protected areas (Table 1) of Chhattisgarh from June, 2011 to May, 2013 (Figure 1). 1104 Dawn and Chandra | Odonates of Chhattisgarh, India Table 1. StudySTUDY Area AREA with Forest Cover,DISTRICT Average annual TemperatureANNUAL and AnnualAVERAGE Rainfall (Nag, 2007). DAILY RAINFALL (mm) PROTECTED FOREST COVER RAINFALL ANNUAL MAX. (JULY TO MIN.(JAN TO DISTRICTS 2 AREAS (km ) (mm) TEMPERATURE (°C) SEPT) MAR) Bastar >27 Bilaspur 400 — 7112.3 1398.2 350 6 to 10 Durg 400 AWLS 2987.5 1130.3 25–27 12 Jashpur >400 20 — 863.2 1757.2 25–27 10 400 BDWLS 2752.3 1544.4 23–25 >400 Kabirdham BHWLS 1852.2 935 25–27 12 >400 Korba — 4187.3 2091 23–25 12 400 Koriya GGNP 3529.3 1376.7 23–25 >18 Surguja >400 Raipur BRWLS 4412.7 977.5 25–27 12 TPWLS 8654.9 1531.6 23–25 >18 Vestalis apicalis Vestalis gracilis Abbreviation used are: AWLS, Achanakmar Wildlife seenSelys, to 1891, concentrate and calopterygids, near the small namely waterholes and small Sanctuary; BDWLS, Badalkhol Wildlife Sanctuary; BHWLS, Selys, 1873 and (Rambur, 1842), were Bhoramdev Wildlife Sanctuary; BRWLS, Barnawapara Rhinocypha bisignata Hagen in Wildlife Sanctuary; GGNP, Guru Ghasidas National Park; rocky streams insideLibellago forests. lineata Few individuals of family ResultsTPWLS, Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary. Chlorocyphidae, namely Selys, 1853 and (Burmeister, 1839), were also found near rocky streams. The list of species reported The present study conducted in 8 districts and 6 from different habitats such as grassland and paddy fields protected areas of Chhattisgarh, revealed the identification near water bodies (I), Ponds and swamps of villages (II), of 68 Odonata species belonging to 44 genera and 10 Deep forests (III), Waterholes inside forest (IV), rocky and families, amongviz., whichCyclogomphus 13 species heterostylus representing 12 genera andshaded adult forest stages streams in the (V) remote and rockyareas riverbedsin the forests (VI) andare areMacrogomphus newly recorded seductus from the state (Table 3) including rockyincluded streams in the may Table enrich 2. Further the species study list. of both the larval 3Zygonyx species, iris iris Selys, 1854, Fraser, 1926 (Gomphidae) and Selys, 1869 (Libellulidae) new records to the Central India. This study resulted in listing the Odonata fauna of this state represented by 85 species speciesbelonging family to 49 Libellulidae genera and 10is familiesmost dominant (Table 2) in which number are more than 18% of the Indian fauna. Among the recorded Amonghaving 35the individuals districts surveyed and least Bastar are the hosts Macromiidae the maximum and Protoneuridae with only one species each (Figure 2). number of species studied, followed by Surguja and Kabirdham and least number of species were studied from DiscussionJashpur and Raipur (Figure 3). Figure 2. Chhattisgarh is the most forested state of India having Chart showing number of Odonata species from different 44% land under forest cover. There are four major forest families identified during the study. types, namely Tropical Moist Deciduous, Tropical Dry Deciduous, Tropical Thorn and Subtropical Broadleaf Hill mostForests. important Forests areforest largely formations distributed of the in State the north (Nag 2007).and in the southern parts of the State. Teak and Sal are the two During monsoon the odonates were abundant in flooded numbercrop-fields, of wetlandsgrasslands dry and up exceptswamps, for buta few as large most ponds part andof the streams. state endures Libellulidae a very and hot Coenagrionidae summer, crop-fields were most and abundant families to be found in almost every habitat. Lestes umbrinus Lestes viridulus Good populations of Selys,Copera 1891 vittata and Rambur,Copera marginipes 1842 (both family Lestidae) were seen in grasslands beside water bodies; Selys, 1863 and (Rambur, 1842) (both family Anax Figure 3. Chart showing number of species recorded from different immaculifronsPlatycnemididae) were mainly found Gynacantha near shaded byadera forest districts and protected areas of Chhattisgarh. streams. In the dry summer, few aeshnids, namely Rambur, 1842 and 1105 Dawn and Chandra | Odonates of Chhattisgarh, India Table 2. beside the species indicate the respective literatures.). List of Odonata recorded from Chhattisgarh (+ indicates species reported herein; * indicates species recorded from literature and the citations DISTRICTS PROTECTED AREAS HABITAT TYPE HABITAT KABIRDHAM KORBA KORIYA RAIPUR SURGUJA AWLS BDWLS BRWLSW BHWLS GGNP TPWLS TAXON BASTAR BILASPUR DURG JASHPUR Order Odonata Suborder Anisoptera Family Aeshnidae Anaciaeschna jaspidea Anax guttatus (Burmeister, 1839) + I Anax immaculifrons (Burmeister, 1839) + + + + + + + + + + + II Gynacantha bayadera Rambur, 1842 + + + + + IV Hemianax ephippiger Selys, 1891 + + + IV Family Gomphidae (Burmeister, 1839) + I Cyclogomphus heterostylus Cyclogomphus ypsilon Selys, 1854 + I Ictinogomphus rapax Selys, 1854 + + I Macrogomphus seductus (Rambur, 1842) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + II Microgomphus torquatus Fraser, 1926 + III Paragomphus lineatus (Selys, 1854) + III Family Libellulidae (Selys, 1850) + + + + + + + I Acisoma panorpoides Brachydiplax sobrina Rambur, 1842 + + + + + + + + + + + + + I Brachythemis contaminata (Rambur, 1842)* + Prasad, 1996 Bradinopyga geminata (Fabricius, 1793) + + + + + + + + + + + + + I, II Camacina gigantea (Rambur, 1842) + + + VI Cratilla lineata (Brauer, 1867) + + + III Crocothemis servilia Foerster, 1903 + + + + + I, II Diplacodes lefebvrii (Drury, 1770) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + I, II Diplacodes nebulosa (Rambur, 1842) + + + II Diplacodes trivialis (Fabricius, 1793) + + I Indothemis limbata ( Rambur, 1842) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + I, II Lathrecista asiatica (Selys, 1891)* + Mitra, 1995; Prasad, 1996 Neurothemis fulvia (Fabricius, 1798) + + + + + III Neurothemis intermedia (Drury, 1773) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + III Neurothemis tullia (Rambur, 1842) + + + + + + + V Orthetrum glaucum (Drury,