Lestes Paloti

Lestes Paloti Latest News

A team of odonatologists has discovered a new species of spreadwing damselfly, Lestes paloti, from the Western Ghats in Kerala.  

About Lestes Paloti

• It is a new species of spreadwing damselfly discovered in Kerala.
• Lestes paloti is the first new species described in the genus Lestes from India since Lestes garoensis was described by Lahiri in 1987.
• Habitat: It inhabits scrub vegetation around homesteads and on laterite hillocks, often away from open water bodies.
• Characteristics: It changes from brown during the dry season to bluish during the monsoon.

What are Damselflies?

• They are a group of predatory, aerial insects that are in the order Odonata. 
• Habitat of Damselflies: Damselflies are found mainly near shallow, freshwater habitats and are graceful fliers with slender bodies and long, filmy, net-veined wings.
• They are generally smaller, more delicate, and fly weakly in comparison with dragonflies.
• Spreadwing damselflies are easy to identify as they hold their wings in a “V” shape over their abdomens. 

Source: TH

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