Study on diversity of Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies) fauna of Lohara lake, District-Chandrapur (M.S), India

Abstract

Odonates are prominent freshwater insects and play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning as biological indicator of environmental quality. The expansion of urban areas in combination with climate change places great pressure on species found in freshwater habitats. Odonata are iconic freshwater organisms due to their large body sizes and striking coloration. Odonata are hemimetabolous insects, the aquatic larva or nymph hatches from an egg, develops instars before leaving the water and emerging as the winged imago. Thermal tolerance affects Odonates physiology like life process such as growth rate, immune system and pigment. The study was carried out for 12 months from January 2022 to December 2022 in and around Lohara Lake. The objective of this study is to assess the diversity of Odonata species and the impact of temperature on two Odonates families Libelluidae and Coenagrionidae in Lohara Lake. In the present investigation, total 12 species were identified belonging to 11 genera and 2 families. Anisoptera (dragonflies) dominant over Zygoptera (damselflies). Among Anisoptera, 8 species belong to family Libelluidae and in Zygoptera, 4 species belong to family Coenagrionidae.The minimum and maximum temperature of the site was 16°C and 44°C, respectively.

Keywords

• Anisoptera
• Diversity
• Lohara
• Hemimetabolous
• Zygoptera