A review of Macromia Rambur, 1842 (Odonata, Macromiidae) of Western Ghats, with taxonomic notes on Macromia miniata Fraser, 1924 and M. irata Fraser, 1924

Abstract

A review of the genus Macromia Rambur, 1842 (Odonata, Macromiidae) of Western Ghats of Peninsular India is presented with its updated distribution. An attempt is made to collate the scattered data in peer-reviewed literature published to date and is supplemented with field data gathered by the authors over two decades. Although Macromia is represented by nine species including six endemics in the Western Ghats, not much has been published on them from the region. Macromia irata Fraser, 1924 was described from Coorg but was rarely reported in peer-reviewed literature since its very brief original description by Fraser in 1924. The detailed morphology including that of the genitalia of M. irata is discussed. A revised classification based on the species groups and a key to the species of Macromia of the Western Ghats of Peninsular India is provided. To quantify the ratios of the number of the prenodal and postnodal veins in Odonata, a new nodal range expression called Standardised Species Nodal Range (SSNR) and a new index termed Standardised Species Nodal Index (SSNI) is also proposed.