Abstract
Rediscovery and recent distribution records of Anaciaeschna martini (Selys, 1897) (Odonata: Aeshnidae) from Western Ghats of peninsular India is discussed with notes on oviposition behavior. Although mentioned in odonate checklists of the region, there are no recent records or photographic evidence of the species from Western Ghats since its last report and collection by F.C. Fraser from Annamalai Hills in 1933.
Highlights
Material Examined: (1) Anaciaeschna martini (Selys, 1897): Female, dead specimen found by Kalesh Sadasivan (KS); Munnar River (10.085N, 77.061E), Munnar Town, Idukky District, Kerala, India; 15 June 2019; 1387m; photographed by KS; 1,387m. (Image 1). (2) Anaciaeschna martini (Selys, 1897): Female ovipositing observed by KS and Baiju Kochunarayan (BK); in a montane lake at Bander in Pampadum Shola
(3) Anaciaeschna martini (Selys, 1897): Female ovipositing observed by Manoj Sethumadavan (MS) and Jeevith.S (JS); photographs of ovipositing female was taken at a Ralliah Dam in Coonoor (11.401N, 76.799E), Nilgiris District by MS; 9 September 2014; 2,100m (Image 2)
Anamalais sightings (Image 1, Figure 1): A fresh dead female was observed by KS by a roadside near Munnar River, Munnar Town, Idukky District, Kerala, India at 10.15h on 15 June 2019
Summary
Anaciaeschna Selys has two species in the Western Ghats, A. martini (Selys, 1897) and A. jaspidea (Burmeister, 1839) (Fraser 1936). We report recent sightings A. martini (Selys, 1897) from Western Ghats of peninsular India, with descriptive notes on its oviposition behavior. The first was from Nilgiris in September 2014 and later two sightings were from Munnar region in Anamalais landscape of Western Ghats in June 2019 (Figure 1).
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