Abstract
Simple SummaryLarge-distance migrations of insects have been recognized for many years, but many details of this behaviour remain unknown. The globe skimmer dragonfly has the most extensive cosmopolitan range among all dragonfly species. Migrations of these dragonflies are noted on all continents (except Antarctica), over both land and the oceans, but the patterns of their seasonal movements are still poorly understood. We aimed to confirm seasonal latitudinal migrations of the globe skimmer in Middle Asia and to clarify its migration pattern in extended areas. We used stable isotope composition of hydrogen in wings of dragonflies as an intrinsic marker of their places of origin. Combining phenological data and a comparison with published isotopic data on migratory insects, our results suggest that in spring, the already-mature dragonflies arrive in Middle Asia for reproduction from tropical parts of East Africa and/or the Arabian Peninsula, and, in autumn, summer-generation dragonflies migrate to the south. We conclude that in the Afro-Asian region there is an extensive migration circle of the globe skimmer covering East Africa, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent with a total length of more than 14,000 km.In Middle Asia, the dragonfly Pantala flavescens makes regular seasonal migrations. In spring, sexually mature dragonflies (immigrants) arrive in this region for reproduction. Dragonflies of the aboriginal generation (residents) develop in about two months, and migrate south in autumn. Residents of Middle Asia have significantly lower δ2H values (−123.5 (SD 17.2)‰, n = 53) than immigrants (−64.4 (9.7)‰, n = 12), as well as aboriginal dragonfly species from Ethiopia (−47.9 (10.8)‰, n = 4) and the Sahel zone (−50.1 (15.5)‰, n = 11). Phenological data on P. flavescens in the Afro-Asian region and a comparison with published isotopic data on migratory insects from this region suggest that (i) the probable area of origin of P. flavescens immigrants is located in tropical parts of East Africa and/or the Arabian Peninsula and (ii) the autumn migration of Middle Asian residents to the south may also pass through the Indian Ocean. We assume that in the Afro-Asian region, there is an extensive migration circle of P. flavescens covering East Africa, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent with a total length of more than 14,000 km.
Highlights
The globe skimmer or wandering glider dragonfly (Pantala flavescens Fabricius) is among the most well-known migrants in the insect world
The δ2 H values of the wings and exuviae of P. flavescens from Middle Asia differed substantially depending on the time of collection (Figure 2)
−76.8 to −16.8‰), and in the wings of Vanessa cardui butterflies from Ethiopia (−57.9 (13.0)‰, n = 21). These δ2 H values did not differ from δ2 H values in the wings of P. flavescens from Middle Asia collected in May (Figure 3)
Summary
The globe skimmer or wandering glider dragonfly (Pantala flavescens Fabricius) is among the most well-known migrants in the insect world. Due to its migration strategy, P. flavescens has the most extensive cosmopolitan range among all dragonfly species This range covers all continents (except Antarctica) [1] and many islands, including the remotest ones, such as Amsterdam Island in the middle of the Indian Ocean [2] and Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean, where P. flavescens apparently became non-migratory [3,4]. Migrations of these dragonflies are noted throughout the range, over both land and the oceans [5,6,7,8]. Monsoon rains create ephemeral ponds, which are the primary habitat for larvae of migratory dragonflies [5,8,10]
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