Libellulidae (Anisoptera) of Upper Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan
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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2016; 4(1): 227-228 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 Libellulidae (Anisoptera) of upper Swat, Khyber JEZS 2016; 4(1): 227-228 © 2016 JEZS Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan Received: 02-11-2015 Accepted: 05-12-2015 Fazlullah, Muhammad Saeed, Ahmad Zia, Abid Farid, Shah Masaud Fazlullah Khan, Tahir Badshah, Naeem Zada Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Haripur, KP, Pakistan. Abstract A study was carried out during year 2013 to study insects belonging to Libellulidae. Sampling of ten Muhammad Saeed locations was undertaken and adults were collected. The study yielded 15 species belonging to 11 genera Department of Agricultural of family Libellulidae. The species were Acisoma panorpoides panorpoides, Crocothemis Sciences, University of Haripur, serviliaservilia, Hydrobasileus croceus, Orthetrum anceps, Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum, Orthetrum KP, Pakistan. sabina Sabina, Sympetrum meridionale, Orthetrum triangulare triangulare, Pantala Flavescens, Palpopleura sexmaculata, Potamarcha obscura, Tholymis tilllarga, Zygonex torridus, Trithemis festiva Ahmad Zia National Insect Museum, NARC, and Sympetrum orientale. Islamabad, Pakistan. Keywords: Odonata, Dragonflies, Libellulidae, Upper Swat. Abid Farid Department of Agricultural Introduction Sciences, University of Haripur, Anisoptera are energetic while Anisozygoptera are ancient group of dragonflies. Dragonflies KP, Pakistan. are considered as true indicators for the ecosystem of fresh environment [1]. [2] Shah Masaud Khan Odonata includes Anisoptera and Zygoptera, having average to large sized insects . Their Department of Agricultural naiads are aquatic and can be found in flowing water bodies. Some species are slender in their Sciences, University of Haripur, needs but others are generalists and can inhabit in almost all kinds of water, whether acidic, KP, Pakistan. alkaline, brackish or saline [3]. The Odonata fauna of Pakistan has been less explored than neighboring countries. During Tahir Badshah Department of Agricultural 1972, 46 species and subspecies belonging to 24 genera of 6 subfamilies of dragonflies were [4] Sciences, University of Haripur, collected and identified from Pakistan . Only eight species instead of the Family Aeshnidae KP, Pakistan. were reported from Pakistan and those were Aeshna juncea, Anax immaculifrons, Anax indicus, Anax nigrofasciatus, Anax parthenope, Cephalaeschna masoni, Gynacanthaeshna Naeem Zada sikkima and Hemianax ephippiger [5, 6, 7]. Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Haripur, Taxonomic studies on the updated status of Odonata related to Libellulidae is required to [8] KP, Pakistan. check the current distribution pattern of above species in Swat region . Keeping in view, an extensive survey Libellulidae was carried out in selected areas of District Swat to update the Libellulidae fauna of District Swat by providing an updated checklist of above species. Materials and Methods Libellulidae survey of upper swat was carried out during year 2013. Different locations were surveyed on weekly basis to collect the specimens. The specimens were collected through aerial netting and their preservation was done following Zia [3]. After killing the specimens were pinned on cork sheets and then preserved in the insect boxes. Collected specimens were brought to National Insect Museum for taxonomic identification. Identified specimens were submitted to Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Haripur, KPK and their representative specimens were deposited at National Insect Museum, Islamabad and identified these insects by the taxonomic key of Chaudhry [5]. Naphthalene balls were placed in the boxes to avoid fungal damage. Correspondence: Results and Discussion Fazlullah During the survey, 15 species belonging to 11 genera of family libellulidae were identified. Department of Agricultural These species were Acisoma panorpoides panorpoides, Crocothemis servilia servilia, Sciences, University of Haripur, Hydrobasileus croceus, Orthetrum anceps, Orthetrum Pruinosum neglectum, Orthetrum KP, Pakistan. sabina Sabina, Sympetrum meridionale, Orthetrum triangulare triangulare, Pantala ~ 227 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies Flavescens, Palpopleura sexmaculata, Tholymis tilllarga, species were collected mostly from stagnant water, slow Potamarcha obscura, Zygonex torridus, Trithemis festiva, moving water, and from seasonal stream. Sympetrum orientale and Sympetrum commixtum. These Table 1: List of collected species of family Libellulidae in upper Swat, KPK Pakistan. S No Genus Species Authority IUCN Red list status 1 Asciosoma Acisoma panorpoides panorpoides Rambur, 1842 Least Concern 2 Crocothemis Crocothemis servilia servilia Drury, 1773 Least Concern 3 Hydrobacilus Hydrobasileus croceus Brauer, 1867) Least Concern 4 Orthetrum Orthetrum anceps Schneider, 1845 Not Defined 5 Orthetrum Orthetrum Pruinosum neglectum Burmeister, 1839 Least Concern 6 Orthetrum Orthetrum sabina sabina Drury, 1770 Least Concern 7 Orthetrum Orthetrum triangulare triangulare Selys, 1878 Least Concern 8 Sympetrum Sympetrum meridionale Selys, 1841 Least Concern 9 Pantala Pantala Flavescens Fabricius, 1798 Least Concern 10 Palpopleura Palpopleura s. sexmaculata Fabricius, 1787 Least Concern 11 Tholymis Tholymis tilllarga Fabricius, 1798 Least Concern 12 Zygonex Zygonex torridus Kirby, 1889 Least Concern 13 Trithemis Trithemis festiva Rambur, 1842 Least Concern 14 Sympetrum Sympetrum orientale Selys, 1883 Data Deficient 15 Sympetrum Sympetrum commixtum Selys, 1884 Least Concern Least Concern Din et al., [9] collected 152 specimens comprising 34 species in A Case Study from Western Namibia.” Biodiver & 21 genera and six families from Potohar Plateau, Punjab, Conser 2006; 5(1):311-332. Pakistan. Out of total explored species, Crocothemis erythraea 2. Rehen AC. “Phylogenetic analysis of higher-level and Pantala flavescens were found dominant and abundant in relationship of Odonata System.” Ent. 2001; 28:181. the plateau there by representing maximum number of 3. Zia A. Biosystematics of Damselflies (Zygoptera: specimens and found in variable habitats ranging from slow Odonata) of Pakistan. Ph.D. thesis, Department of moving water to stagnant water of ponds. Agriculture Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Yeh et al., [10] reported 3 dragonflies including Zyxomma Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 2010. obtusum Albarda (Libellulidae) from Taiwan. Sadeghi and 4. Yousuf M. Ph.D. Thesis, Dept. Entomol. W. P. A. U. Mohammadalizadeh [11] reported forty eight species of Lyallpur, Pakistan, 1972. Odonata including 23 species belonging to Libellulidae from 5. Chaudhry MT, Aslam M. “Anax indicus Lieftinck 1942 Iran. Two species of Libellulidae (Libellula fulva and (Odonata: Anisoptera: Aeshnidae) an addition in the fauna Sympetrum sinaiticum) and one species of Gomphidae of Pakistan.” Pak. J. Zool. 2010; 42(1):99-101. (Paragomphus sinaiticus) are recorded from Iran for the first 6. Chaudhry MT, Aslam M, Naeem M. “New record of time. Yousuf [4] identified forty six species and sub species genus Gynacanthaeshna Fraser, 1922 (Odonata: belonging to twenty four genera of six subfamilies of Odonata Anisoptera: Aeshnidae) from Pakistan.” Pak. J. Zool. from different localities of West Pakistan including species 2010; 42(4):501-503. related to Libellulidae. 7. Khaliq A, Maula F. “Records of dragonflies from Swat Studies on taxonomic distribution of Odonata naiads in valley, Pakistan.” Fraseria 1999; 6(1&2):1-2. Pakistan have rarely been carried out in the past. Numerous 8. Din A. “Spatial and temporal distribution of Odonata faunistic studies have been conducted recording species naiads in lentic and lotic ecosystems of Potohar plateau, diversity of adult Odonates. It is important to document that Punjab.” Department of Plant and Environmental being flying insects, Odonates are known to fly long distances Protection, KpK. Agriculture University, Peshawar, in search of food and ideal ecological conditions especially for Pakistan, 2012. temperature and humidity preferences. 9. Din AU, Zia AA, Bhatti R, Khan MN. “Odonata Naiads of Potohar Plateau, Punjab, Pakistan.” Pakistan J. Zool. Conclusion and Recommendations 2013; 45(3):695-700. During the study, 15 species belonging to 11 genera of family 10. Zia A, Awan ZJ, Astori ZH. Boreal Odonata of Pakistan: Libellulidae were recorded from upper Swat of Khyber Dragonflies and Damselflies. LAP, Lambert Academic Pakhtunkhwa. Further research is recommended to contribute Publishing, 2011. the knowledge of the Swat fauna of dragonflies by providing an updated checklist of species occurring in the region. It is also recommended to determine the distribution patterns of various Species occurring in this area. References 1. Suhling F, Goran S, Andreas M, Eugene M, Carsten S. “Dragonfly Assemblagesin Arid Tropical Environments: ~ 228 ~ .