Study on the Seasonality, Habitat and Aspects of Reproductive Behavior of Calicnemia miles (Laidlaw, 1917) (Odonata: Platycnemididae) from Assam, India

Dipti Thakuria,Jatin Kalita

doi:10.13189/azb.2019.070201

Abstract

Calicnemia miles (Laidlaw, 1917) is a bright red blood colored, damselfly specialized to waterfalls. Apart from the limited knowledge on the flight season, no prior reports on the breeding biology of the species are available. The present study attempts to describe the seasonality, habitat and behavioral aspects of oviposition in C. miles recorded from Assam. The population of C. miles was recorded during late premonsoon (April-May) and early monsoon season (June-July); peak of flight and copulation was observed in the month of June. The species occupies shady areas near waterfalls and was found to prefer roots of trees, moss carpet and damp seepage of streamlets surrounded by vegetation for mating and oviposition. The female deposits eggs into the plant tissue endophytically. Daily oviposition activity lasts from 80-120 minutes during which the males guards their females in tandem till the entire episode of oviposition.

Highlights

The species of the genus Calicnemia Strand, 1928 belonging to the family Platycnemididae are damselflies, mainly confined to Southeast Asia, India and China (Lieftinck, 1984)
In India, Calicnemia miles are known to occur in Sikkim, Darjeeling Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh and Purbanchal (Mitra, 2003)
Significant reproductive populations of Calicnemia miles were located during the late premonsoon (April, May) and early monsoon season (June, July)

Summary

Introduction

The species of the genus Calicnemia Strand, 1928 belonging to the family Platycnemididae are damselflies, mainly confined to Southeast Asia, India and China (Lieftinck, 1984). The species are recognizable by its colouration and markings, as well as the form of its genital ligula and anal appendages (Dow et al, 2014). The genus Calicnemia has 24 accepted species worldwide (Schorr and Paulson, 2019) among which 10 species are known to occur from India. (Subramanian and Babu, 2017). In India, Calicnemia miles are known to occur in Sikkim, Darjeeling Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh and Purbanchal (Mitra, 2003)

Study Area

Survey

Habitat

Seasonality

Observations on Oviposition Behaviour

Discussion