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A survey of Odonata from eastern Bhutan, with nine new national records

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A survey of Odonata from eastern Bhutan, with nine new national records

Thinley Gyeltshen

Department of Zoology, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Sherubtse College, Kanglung, Bhutan; [email protected]

Abstract. Odonates were collected in five districts (Tashigang, Samdrupjongkhar, Lhuntse, Pemagatshel and Zhemgang) in the eastern half of Bhutan between 13-iv- and 30-v-2016 and in Lhuntse district and Kanglung region in June 2016. A total of 16 localities were visited and 42 species were found, nine of which are new to Bhutan. These arePhiloganga montana, Anisogomphus occipitalis, sp., Davidius zallorensis, Stylogomphus inglisi, Chloro­ gomphus preciosus, Lyriothemis bivittata, Potamarcha congener and Zygonyx iris, increasing the number of Odonata species known from Bhutan to 104. Further key words. , damselfly, Anisoptera, Zygoptera

Introduction The knowledge on the Odonata fauna of Bhutan has improved greatly in recent years resulting in a significant increase in the number of species known to occur there. Only eleven species were known in 1991 (Fraser 1936b; Lieftinck 1977; Tsuda 1991) but from 2002 to 2014 no fewer than 73 species were added to the list by Mitra and his co-researchers (Mitra 2002, 2006, 2008, 2013; Mitra & Thinley 2006; Mitra et al. 2012, 2014). Among these was the mysterious laidlawi Tillyard, 1921 of which larvae have been recorded from several rivers and streams in Bhutan since 2009 although adults have thus far not been found (Brockhaus & Hartmann 2009). Kalkman & Gyeltshen (2016) added 11 additional species to the list and indicated that there are still many more species undiscovered in Bhutan. Most recently, Gyelt- shen et al. (2016) added two new species (Camacinia giganta and Libellago line­ata) to the Bhutan checklist, bringing the number of taxa known from Bhutan to 92. Following a study carried out in the western part of the country in October 2015 (Kalkman & Gyeltshen 2016) a corresponding field visit to the eastern part of the country was deemed necessary. Previous studies on the from eastern Bhutan concentrated on the area around Trashigang district and nearby districts with major representations coming from Bumdeling (Tashiyangtse district), Kanglung (Tashigang district) and Samdrupcholing (Samdrupjongkhar district). Records from other districts are scarce and therefore the field work of spring 2016 attempted to cover these areas.

Material and methods Fieldwork was carried out between 13-iv- and 30-v-2016 in the five eastern dis- tricts Tashigang, Samdrupjongkhar, Lhuntse, Pemagatshel and Zhemgang (Fig. 1).

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Additional records were collected in Lhuntse district and Kanglung region in vi- -2016. Most places visited had not been explored for dragonflies previously. The sixteen sites ranged in elevation from 125 to 1 706 m a.s.l. Common species such as Diplacodes trivialis, Orthetrum glaucum, O. pruinosum and O. triangulare were not collected but notes on their presence were made. Specimens were identified using the identification keys of Fraser (1933, 1934, 1936), Lieftinck (1977), Laidlaw (1922) and Asahina (1986). Specimens collected are currently in the author’s col- lection to be later deposited in the museum of the National Biodiversity Centre of Bhutan.

List of localities with odonate records (1) Dezama, Nganglam, Pemagatshel District, small stream by roadside (26°50’29.0.3”N, 91°16’34.3”E, 720 m a.s.l), 14-iv-2016 and 27-iv-2016. (2) Nganglam, Pemagatshel District, small pond (26°50’13.9”N, 91°14’58.3”E, 574 m a.s.l), 14-iv-2016. (3) Tokaphungri, Norbugang, Pemagatshel District, small brook at roadside (26°50’31.6”N, 91°01’25.3”E, 686 m a.s.l), 15-iv-2016. (4) Thinleygang, Panbang, Zhemgang District, small running stream at roadside (26°50’42.6”N, 90°59’39.6”E, 390 m a.s.l), 15-iv-2016. (5) Mangdue chu, Panbang, Zhemgang Dis- trict, banks of Mangdechu river before the confluence with Kurigongri (26°50’35.7”N, 90°56’42.67”E, 125 m a.s.l), 17-iv-2016. (6) Jirangang, Panbang, Zhemgang District, small stream bordered by a footpath (26°51’11.9”N, 90°56’29.4”E, 187 m a.s.l), 17-iv-2016. (7) Allabhari, Nganglam, Pemagatshel District, stagnant water on un- paved road (26°49’21.9”N, 91°14’26.5”E, 270 m a.s.l), 18-iv-2016. (8) Jampaney, Jo- motsangkha, Samdrup Jongkhar District, small brook at roadside (26°54’52.4”N, 92°06’03.5”E, 345 m a.s.l), 20-iv-2016. (9) Phatung, Nganglam, Pemagatshel Dis- trict, small stream at roadside (26°51’06.3”N, 91°15’06.3”E, 650 m a.s.l), 25-iv-2016.

Fig. 1. Map of Bhutan with the regions visited and the topo- graphic position of the locali- ties sampled.

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(10) Upper Tshenkhari, Nganglam, Pemagatshel District, cleared area beside a small stream (26°52’09.1”N, 91°13’54.5”E, 522 m a.s.l), 26-iv-2016. (11) Remung, Sam- drupjongkhar District, Small stream with some overhead vegetation (26°59’21.0”N, 91°30’00.2”E, 1 028 m a.s.l), 30-iv-2016. (12) Remung, Samdrupjongkhar District, Very small stream covered with thick bushes and bordered by trees and a deserted human track (26°58’47.2”N, 91°29’42.6”E, 923 m a.s.l), 30-iv-2017. (13) Fawan, Lhuntse District, small open brook with waterfall (29°29.457”N, 91°10.981”E, 915 m a.s.l), 08-v-2016. (14) Bamridang, Kanglung,Tashigang District, marshy spring on hillside (27°16’16.7”N, 91°31’50.7”E, 1 708 m a.s.l), 14-v-2016. (15) Ritsangdung, Kanglung, Tashigang District, narrow channel of running water at the roadside (27°17’16.3”N, 91°30’22.7”E, 1 672 m a.s.l), 04-vi-2016. (16) Merphey, Kanglung, Tashigang District, small stagnant water body along roadside (27°17’24.1”N, 91°31’08.0”E, 1 690 m a.s.l), 04-vi-2016.

Results In total, 42 species were collected from 16 sampling sites. Philoganga montana, An­ iso­gomphus occipitalis, Gomphidae sp., Davidius zallorensis, Stylogomphus inglisi, Chlorogomphus preciosus, Lyriothemis bivittata, Potamarcha congener and Zygonyx iris are additions to the fauna of Bhutan. These records increase the number of Odo- nata species known from Bhutan to 104 (cf. Gyeltshen et al. 2017).

List of species collected New species for Bhutan are marked with an asterisk.

Family Lestidae 1. Lestes praemorsus Hagen in Selys, 1892 (2) 1♂ (7) 3♂ 1♀.

Family Calopterygidae 2. Caliphaea confusa Hagen in Selys, 1859 (14) 1♂ 2♀. 3. Neurobasis chinensis (Linnaeus, 1758) (7)1♂ 1♀.

Family Chlorocyphidae 4. Aristocypha cuneata (Selys, 1853) (5) 2♂ 1♀ (7) 1♂. 5. Aristocypha quadrimaculata (Selys, 1853) (1) 2♂ 1♀ (4) 1♂ (5) 1♂ (13) 1♂. 6. Paracypha unimaculata (Selys, 1853) (5) 1♂ 1♀.

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Family Euphaeidae 7. Anisopleura comes Hagen, 1880 (1) 1♂ (3) 2♂ (11) 2♂ 1♀ (14) 1♂. 8. Bayadera indica (Selys, 1853) (9) 2♂ 1♀ (13) 1♂ (14) 1♀.

Family Philogangidae 9. *Philoganga montana (Hagen in Selys, 1859) (1) 1♀.

Family Platycnemididae 10. Calicnemia eximia (Selys, 1863) (1) 2♂ 1♀. 11. Calicnemia miniata (Selys, 1886) (1) 1♂ 2♀. 12. Coelicia sp. (12)1♂ 1♀. 13. Copera vittata assamensis Laidlaw, 1914 (7) 1♂.

Family Coenagrionidae 14. Agrionemis femina (Brauer, 1868) (2) 1♂. 15. Amphiallagma parvum (Selys, 1876) (1) 1♂. 16. Ceriagrion coromandelianum (Fabricius, 1798) (2) 1♂. 17. Ischnura aurora (Brauer, 1865) (1) 1♂ (5) 2♂. 18. Pseudagrion rubiceps Selys, 1876 (5) 1♂ 1♀.

Family 19. Anax indicus Lieftinck, 1942 (7) 1♂. 20. Periaeschna magdalena Martin, 1909 (1) 1♂.

Family Gomphidae 21. *Anisogomphus occipitalis (Selys, 1854) (1) 1♂ (14) 1♂ 2♀.

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22. Davidius baronii Lieftinck, 1977 (14) 1♂ 1♀. 23. *Davidius zallorensis Hagen in Selys, 1878 (14) 1♂. 24. *Gomphidae sp. (5) 1♀. 25. Perissogomphus stevensi Laidlaw, 1922 (8) 1♀ (13) 1♂ 1♀. 26. *Stylogomphus inglisi Fraser, 1922 (1) 1♂.

Family Chlorogomphidae 27. Chlorogomphus mortoni Fraser, 1936 (1) 1♂ (4) 2♂ (11) 1♀. 28. *Chlorogomphus preciosus (Fraser, 1924) (11) 1♂.

Family 29. Anotogaster nipalensis Selys, 1854 (15) 1♂ 1♀.

Family 30. Macromia moorei Selys, 1874 (1) 1♂ (11) 2♂.

Family 31. Crocothemis servilia (Drury, 1773) (5) 2♂ 1♀ (10) 1♂. 32. Diplacodes nebulosa (Fabricius, 1793) (5) 2♂ 1♀. 33. *Lyriothemis bivittata (Rambur, 1842) (6) 2♂ (9) 1♂. 34. Neurothemis fulvia (Drury, 1773) (7) 1♀. 35. Orthetrum internum McLachlan, 1894 (14) 1♂. 36. Orthetrum luzonicum Brauer, 1868 (9) 1♂ (16) 1♂. 37. Palpopleura sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1787) (5) 1♂. 38. Pantala flavescens(Fabricius, 1798) (5) 1♂ 1♀.

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39. *Potamarcha congener (Rambur, 1842) (7) 1♂. 40. Trithemis festiva (Rambur, 1842) (1) 2♂. 41. Trithemis pallidinervis (Kirby, 1889) (5) 2♂ 1♀. 42. *Zygonyx iris Selys, 1869 (13) 1♀.

Discussion Kemp & Butler (2001) reported Philoganga montana (Fig. 2) as fairly common around Phewa Tal lake in Pokhara valley in central Nepal. The species was recorded from mountain streams with overhanging bushes in Meghalaya in India by Lahiri (1987); habitats in Bhutan corresponded well with this description. In addition to the female collected a further female was observed resting among plants in an ag- ricultural field near the stream. The fact that this large and striking species was not seen during previous studies and during this study was only found at one locality suggests that it might be rather uncommon in Bhutan. Anisogomphus occipitalis and Stylogomphus inglisi are fairly widespread in the north of the Indian peninsula and their occurrence in Bhutan therefore not sur- prising. The single female gomphid collected at loc. 5 could not be identified to species level with certainty. However, it does not seem to belong to any of the gomphid spe- cies known to occur in Bhutan.

Fig. 2. Philoganga montana female. Nganglam, Pemagatshel District, Bhutan (14-iv-2016). Photo: Tshering Nidup

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Davidius zallorensis and D. baronii were found syntopically at locality 14 (Fig. 3). In summer 2016 a flash flood damaged the habitat where both species were record- ed (cf. Fig. 4) and it remains to be seen if larvae populations survived there. D. zal­ lorensis is only known from a handful of locations from the Himalaya in India and Nepal. D. baronii was described by Lieftinck (1977) from Bhutan and has since only been recorded by Mitra & Thinley (2006); the species is hitherto known only from Bhutan but is likely to occur also in adjacent parts of India. Anisogomphus caudalis was added to the Bhutanese fauna by Dorji (2014) based on material collected at Toebirongchu in Punakha district. Closer exami- nation of the picture provided in Dorji (2014) showed that it was misidentified and it in fact shows Perissogomphus stevensi Laidlaw, 1922; this species was previ- ously recorded from Bhutan by Mitra (2014) who reported a single female from Tsirang district. Including the two records presented here, there are now four sites for P. stevensi known from Bhutan, suggesting that the species might be not un- common. The appendages of the male specimen of Chlorogomphus preciosus (Fig. 5) are slightly different from those depicted by Fraser (1936a) but fit with the descrip- tion provided by Asahina (1986). It was caught patrolling over a partly open rivu- let where C. mortoni, Macromia moorei, Neurobasis chinensis and large numbers of Anisopleura comes were also recorded. This is the first record for Bhutan and the first published record since 1961 when it was reported from Arunachal Pradesh in India (Asahina 1986). Chlorogomphus mortoni (Fig. 6) is categorised as data defi- cient in the IUCN Red List (Subramanian 2010). Previous records are from Sik- kim, India (Fraser 1936a) and from Nepal and Bhutan, in the latter two countries a single female each (Mahato 1988; Mitra et al. 2012). Sites where it occurred in this study were small moderately steep streams with a good amount of forest;

Fig. 3. Stream habitat of Davidius zalloren- Fig 4. Same site as shown in Fig. 11 after a sis, Davidius baronii, Anisopleura comes, flood. Bamridang, Tashigang District, Bhutan Caliphaea confusa and Orthetrum internum. (11-viii-2016). Photo: Tshering Nidup Bamridang, Tashigang District, Bhutan (14-v- 2016). Photo: Tshering Nidup

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Fig. 5. Male of Chloro­gomphus preciosus. Remung, Samdrupjongkhar District, Bhutan (30-iv-2016). Photo: TG

Fig. 6. Chlorogomphus mortoni male. Nganglam, Pemagatshel District, Bhutan (14-iv-2016). Photo: Tshering Nidup

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Fig. 7. Lyriothemis bivittata male. Panbang, Zhemgang District, Bhutan (17-iv-2016). Photo: Tshering Nidup

all were situated in the southern part of Bhutan between 500–1 000 m a.s.l. Males were seen hovering over long stretches of streams, with a preference for sections with slower current. Lyriothemis bivittata is widely distributed in Asia but rather uncommon and not often recorded. In India it is known, among other places, from Assam and West Bengal adjacent to Bhutan which is why its presence in the country was not unex- pected. Compared to the description given by Kompier (2017) Bhutanese speci- mens had an extensive yellow thorax pattern, with almost the entire mesepimeron covered by yellow, except the brown tinged upper third (Fig. 7).

Acknowledgements. I am grateful to Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTFEC) for funding this study, National Biodiversity Centre (Bhutan) for support and Direc- tor of Sherubtse College for permitting to undertake field work. I am also grateful to Vin- cent J. Kalkman for help with identification and for reviewing the manuscript. I would like to thank Tshering Nidup and Phurpa Dorji for helping me take photographs and accompanying me in the field. Many thanks are due to Mr Kesang Gaden for helping me with the map and to Haruki Karubi of Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History, Japan for helping me with the identification of Chlorogomphus preciosus.

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