Odonata Species

Odonata Species Latest News

Recently, the survey recorded 143 odonata species—76 dragonflies and 67 damselflies—of which 40 were endemic to the Western Ghats. 

About Odonata Species

• Odonata, popularly known as dragonflies and damselflies are primarily associated with wetlands and surrounding landscape.
• The order Odonata is one of the ancient groups of insects.
• Odonata is an insect order consisting of three groups: Anisoptera (which includes dragonflies), Zygoptera (which includes damselflies), and Anisozygoptera (a relict group represented by only two living species).
• It is one of the ancient orders of insects. 
• Habitat: They are found in a variety of habitats, such as freshwater environments like ponds, rivers, and lakes.
• Distribution
  • They are globally distributed, from the tropics, where they are most numerous and varied, to the boreal forests of Siberia and North America.
  • They are also found throughout the Southern Hemisphere, with the exception of Antarctica.

‹ ›

Features of Odonata Species

• These species consist of minute antennae, extremely large eyes (filling most of the head), two pairs of transparent membranous wings with many small veins, a long slender abdomen, and an aquatic larval stage (nymph).
• The abdomen is almost always longer than any of the wings.
• More than 80% of their brain is devoted to analyzing visual information.
• Behaviour: Large, active by day, and often strikingly coloured, they are usually seen flying near water.
• Diet: Adult odonates are voracious predators, as are the aquatic larvae.

Source: TH