A note on the altitudinal distribution of Odonata between Dumre and Khansar in central Nepal M. Mahato Natural History Museum. Anandakuti. Swayambhu, Kathmandu. Nepal Abstract — 34 spp. were collected at 21 locali- Lamjungand Mananglcf. Fig. I). In the distribu- ties between Dumre (alt 420 and Khansar tion of avail- m) taxa, the climate and the type of (alt. 3580 m). along the Marsayandi River, du- able aquatic habitats play the key role. The 1984. This subtro- ring September. range covers climate of Dumre (Tanahu) is subtropical and pical to alpine climatic zones. At higher eleva- that of Khansar (Mahang) is subalpine to al- commixtum tions only Sympetrum was re- pine. There is heavier rainfall in the southern corded. risi In Onychogomphus (Phalyak Sangu, part of the study area than in the North. the alt. 672 m) had not been the previously reported upper Manang(above 3352 m) most of pre- from Nepal. cipitation falls as snow (Anonymous, 1974). the trek from Along Dumre to Khansar 26 Introduction but sites were visited, dragonflies were found A collection made in dragonfly was September, only at 21 localities. The specimens are depo- 1984 along the Marsayandi River, between sited in the Natural History Museum. Kath- Dumre (alt. 420 m) and Khansar (alt. 3580 m). mandu. covering (from S to N) the districts of Tanahu. 122 Notul. Vol. 2, No, odonatol., 8, pp. 121-136, December I, 1986 lianum (Fabr.) A; — Isch- Fraser nura carpentieri $: K; — I. aurora(Brauer) S'- B; I.forcipata Morton Q\ E, H. Lestidae — Indolestes cya- neus (Sel.) H. Chlorolestidae — Mega- lestes major Sel. $: Q. Euphaeidae — Anisopleu- ra comes Hagen Q. ChlorocJ'phidae — Rhi- nocypha quadrimaculata Sel. c5, 9: D; — R. trifasciata Sel. f$, 9; N. Gomphidae — O. bifor- ceps Sel. J; — Onychogom- phus risi (Fraser) Q-. H; — Anisogomphusbivittatus (Sel.) 9: J- Cordulegastridae— Ano- togaster nipalensis Sel. <J: D, I. of the central show- Fig. Map Manang-Mustangarea, Nepal, E, F; — Chlorogomphus att- ing the route of collection. kinsoni (Sel.) G. Libellulidae — Acisomap. panorpoides Rambur F; Crocothemis Sites visited servilia (Drury) <J, 9: D, E; Diplacodes A: Dumre (420 m) I.IX; — B; Bhansar (484 m) trivialis (Rambur) <5, 9 : A, B, G; I.IX; — C: Barahbise (420 m) 2.IX; — D: Tur- Neurothemis fulvia (Drury) <J, 9: E; N. ture (450 ra) 2.IX; — E: Baliphat (450 m) 2.IX; intermedia (Rambur) <5: I; Orthetrum — F: Baisajhankar (520 m) 2.IX; — G: Paudi glaucum (Brauer) $: E; O. luzonicum Bazar (620 m) 3.IX; — H: Phalyak Sangu (672 (Brauer) 9: D; O. pruinosum neglectum m) 3.IX; — I: Bhakundi (800 m) 3.IX; — J: (Rambur) $. 9: B, D, O; O. sabina (Drury) Besisahar (696 m) 4.IX; — K: Khudi beni (823 9: Q; O. taeniolatum (Schneider)$: F; O. — 4. M: m) 4, IX; L: Bhulbhule (820 m) IX; — t. triangulare (Sel.) (J: A; Palpopleura s. — Nyagdi (910 m) 5.1X; N: Bahune danda sexmaculata (Fabr.) <3, 9: B, F, L; (1152 m) 5.IX; — O: Sangey (1080 m) 5.IX; Potamarcha obscura (Rambur) <J : C; — P: Jagat (1200 m) 6.IX; — Q: Taal (1620 ra) Pseudotramea prateri Fraser 9: E; Sym- — 8.IX; R: Dharapani (1820 m) 8.IX; — S: petrum commixtum Selys <3, 9 : W, X, Y, Z; Bagarchhap (2164 m) 8.IX; — T: Dhanagyung Trithemis festiva (Rambur) M, O. (2170 m) 9.IX; — U: Chame (2727 m) 9.IX; — V: Bradang (2810 m) I0.IX; — W: Pisang Discussion — X: collected it (3270 m) 10. IX; Ongre (3200 m) 11/12. Altogether 34 species were and goes IX; — Y: Manang (3536 m) 13.IX; — Z: without saying that the fauna is richer in the Khansar I4.IX. (3580 m) subtropical zone (Dumre - Basisahar) than in the and temperate zone at high altitudes. collected Species Only 10 species, viz. Agriocnemispygmaea, Platycnemididae — Calicnemia eximia Ischnura carpentieri. Calicnemia pulverulans, (Sel.) 3. 2: C, F; - C. pulverulans (Sel.) 9: A, Megalestes major, Anisopleura comes, Rhino- C, N, P; -v Coeliccia renifera (Sel.) $: F. cypha trifasciata, Orthetrum pruinosum ne- Coenagrionidae — Agriocnemispygmaea glectum. O. sabina, Palpopleura sexmaculata — and (Rambur) f. 9:1, P; Ceriagrion coromande- Trithemis festiva, were recorded from Notul. Vol. No. December 123 odonatol., 2, 8, pp. 121-136, I, 1986 Khudi to Taal (823-1620 m): and no collections Dr M. HAmAlAINEN (Helsinki, Finland) were made from Dharapani to Bradang (1820- for reading the manuscript, and to Professor 2810 m). This could also be partly due to cold, Dr B. KIAUTA (Bilthoven, The Netherlands) and weather the foggy rainy during study pe- for confirmation of the Onychogomphus risi commixtum riod. Only one species Sympetrum record. was collected from Pisang (3270 m) to Khansar and — (3580 m) near ponds swampy areas. References Anonymous, 1974, Mechi Dekhi Odonates were not recorded above Khansar. Mahakali, vol. 2. Dept Information, Kath- Onychogomphus risi (Fraser) is recorded for mandu; — FRASER, F.C., 1934, Thefaunaof the first time from Nepal(cf, K1AUTA, 1984). It British India including Ceylon and Burma.- O- was found hovering above a waterfall onehour donala. voi. 2, Taylor & Francis, London; — North of Phalyak Sangu. Previously this species K.IAUTA, B„ 1984, Preliminarychecklist ofthe was reported by FRASER (1934) from eastern odanole laxa published from Nepal (1854- India and by SINGH & PRASAD (1976) from -1985. parlim), SIO Internal Communication, the Doon Valley, western India (cf. also Utrecht; — KUMAR, A. & M. PRASAD, 1981, PRASAD & KUMAR, 1977; KUMAR & Rec. zool. Sure. India (Occ. Pap.) 20: 1-118; — PRASAD, 1981). PRASAD, M. & A. KUMAR, 1977, News! zool Surv. India 3(4): 170-174;—SINGH,A.& Acknowledgements — I am grateful to Mr M. PRASAD, 1976, Rec. zool Surv. India 70: R.L. SHRESTHA, Chief (Natural History 21-38, Museum, Kathmandu) for giving me the chance to visit the above mentioned area, to Received September 24. 1986.