Abundance and diversity of Odonata in temporary water bodies of Coimbatore and Salem districts in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Odonata diversity was assessed in 13 temporary water bodies of Coimbatore and Salem districts in Tamil Nadu. Assessment revealed the presence of 21 species of Odonata (14 species of Anisoptera and seven species of Zygoptera) belonging to 17 genera under four families. Libellulidae (Anisoptera) was represented by the maximum number of species and individuals. Pantala flavescens (Libellulidae) was the most abundant among 21 species. Among the temporary water bodies, the maximum number of individuals as well as species was recorded from Utkulam tank (Coimbatore district). Odonata diversity was higher in Kamalapuram tanks 1 and 2 (Salem district) and lower in Ukkadam tank (Coimbatore District). Diplacodes trivialis (Rambur), Orthetrum sabina (Drury) and Pantala flavescens (Fabricius) were identified as temporary water body specialists because of their presence in all the 13 temporary water bodies sampled.