A Preliminary survey of Dragonflies and Damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) in and around Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary Shopian, Kashmir

Muzafar Riyaz,K Sivasankaran

doi:10.21608/eajbsa.2021.157352

Abstract

Dragonflies and Damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary are presented. The Sanctuary is located in the District Shopian of Kashmir Valley (33°39'28.6N 74°41'15.2E). The area is rich in both floral and faunal diversity with most of the area covered with lush green forests. Around the sanctuary, Agro and Horticultural plantations such as Apple, Pear, Peach and vegetable crops abides most of the land cover in the area. The present study was carried out from June to October 2020. A total number of 10 species from six families were recorded in and around the area. The most abundant species recorded are from the family Libellulidae which are active mostly in the months from June to October. A number of freshwater bodies flow through the district and receives annual precipitation of around 1800mm, which makes the area more suitable for the Odonates diversity. Here we present the first preliminary report of order Odonata collected from the sanctuary and adjoining areas of Kashmir Valley.

Highlights

Dragonflies and Damselflies are undoubtedly one of the natural world’s design classics with a uniquely adapted body plan and behaviour repertoire that has stood the test of time
These species are the ancient group of insects that belong to the order Odonata and are considered as the ecological indicators
Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary is located at the foothills of Pir Panjal Mountain Range, surrounded by the snowclad and sky-scraping mountain ranges of Inner Himalayas

Summary

Introduction

Dragonflies and Damselflies are undoubtedly one of the natural world’s design classics with a uniquely adapted body plan and behaviour repertoire that has stood the test of time. These species are the ancient group of insects that belong to the order Odonata and are considered as the ecological indicators. A total number of around 6338 species from 693 genera of Odonates have been reported so far across the globe, Paulson and Schorr (2020). In India, 496 species, 27 subspecies from 154 genera and 18 families have been reported from India, Subramanian and Babu (2020); Joshi and Sawant (2020); Bedjanič et al, (2020); Payra et al, (2020). Most areas of the valley are underexplored besides some of the brief studies of the order Odonata from Jammu and Kashmir, Bashir et al, (2017); Sheikh et al, (2020); Maqbool and Kant (2015)

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