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Urbanisation continues to increase at an alarming rate and its effects on the natural environment are very profound now more than ever. Moreover, studies on terrestrial urban landscapes seems to be more than that on urban freshwater habitats. Furthermore, studies have shown that the Odonata are effective indicators of the effects of urbanisation on freshwater habitats. However, not much is known about their responses to urbanisation in sub-Saharan Africa, especially given the unique set of conditions that characterise the area. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate differences in Odonata responses, measured as the proportion of habitat generalists, to three levels of habitat disturbance in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. Results showed that Phaon camerunensis was a potential indicator of habitat disturbance. Also, differences in habitat disturbance significantly affected Odonata composition. The most important variables that influenced Odonata responses were the individual and interaction effects of altitude and preservation of riparian vegetation. Therefore, conservation strategies that are targeted at reducing the impacts of urbanisation on Odonata must focus on these variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The patterns of richness, diversity, and abundance of an odonate assemblage from San Buenaventura, Jalisco are presented here. A total of 1087 specimens from seven families, 35 genera and 66 species were obtained through monthly samplings of five days each during a period of one year. Libellulidae was the most diverse family (28 species), followed by Coenagrionidae (21), Gomphidae (7), Aeshnidae (6), Calopterygidae (2), Lestidae (1) and Platystictidae (1). Argia was the most speciose genus. The highest species richness and Shannon diversity were found during August and September, whereas the highest abundance was observed in June and the highest Simpson diversity was recorded in September -- all of which were associated with the rainy season. The highest values of phylogenetic diversity were found from June to October. The different diversity facets of this assemblage were positively correlated with precipitation and minimum temperature, whereas maximum temperature showed no influence. In addition, we found that this odonate diversity was higher than most Mexican localities with tropical dry forest (TDF) studied. New information: We continue our efforts to describe the patterns of richness, diversity and abundance of some insect groups associated with the tropical dry forest ecosystem in Mexico, following a latitudinal gradient of the distribution of this ecosystem in the country. Our emphasis here was to evaluate the spatial and temporal patterns of richness and diversity of an Odonata assemblage from Jalisco, Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of reproductive barriers, that is, the speciation process, implies the limitation of gene flow between populations. Different patterns of genomic differentiation throughout the speciation continuum may provide insights into the causal evolutionary forces of species divergence. In this study, we analysed a cryptic species complex of the genus Hetaerina (Odonata). This complex includes H. americana and H. calverti; however, in H. americana two highly differentiated genetic groups have been previously detected, which, we hypothesize, may correspond to different species with low morphological variation. We obtained single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for 90 individuals belonging to the different taxa in the complex and carried out differentiation tests to identify genetic isolation. The results from STRUCTURE and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC), based on almost 5000 SNPs, confirmed the presence of three highly differentiated taxa. Also, we found FST values above 0.5 in pairwise comparisons, which indicates a considerable degree of genetic isolation among the suggested species. We also found low climatic niche overlap among all taxa, suggesting that each group occurs at specific conditions of temperature, precipitation and elevation. We propose that H. americana comprises two cryptic species, which may be reproductively isolated by ecological barriers related to niche divergence, since the morphological variation is minimal and, therefore, mechanical barriers are probably less effective compared to other related species such as H. calverti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many studies show the negative impacts of agricultural activities on aquatic ecosystems, few relate functional and structural characteristics of the biota. We evaluate the structure and functional dynamics of aquatic insects in headwater streams with different degrees of land cover and in different hydrological periods, in a hydrographic basin where agriculture and livestock predominate. Three diversity indices were measured: functional richness (FRic), functional equitability (FEve) and functional dispersal (FDis), with the highest values recorded for Trichoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Odonata. From the results, the abundance was higher in the dry season and some families were exclusive to this period. In the rainy season, there was a decline in total abundance and richness of families and an increase of Diptera in urban streams. In rural streams, we registered an occurrence of Odonata, Coleoptera and EPT and a reduction of Diptera. The recorded data confirm that urbanization has negative effects on ecosystem functioning, since urban streams showed lower richness, dispersion and functional evenness. Furthermore, the increase in taxonomic diversity was accompanied by an increase in functional diversity, which reinforces the importance of the combined approach of functional and structural traits to better understand the impacts of anthropic changes in neotropical streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated whether ecological thresholds could be detected along gradients of disturbances by using larval Odonata genera. Morphological, physiological, and behavioral differences between Odonata suborders may be reflected in different thresholds to anthropogenic disturbance. Therefore, we hypothesized that larval Zygoptera genera would have narrower ecological thresholds in response to increased levels of stream disturbance and would be considered sensitive to anthropogenic disturbances, and the opposite for larval Anisoptera genera, which would have wider ecological thresholds and would be considered tolerant to anthropogenic disturbances. We assessed 30 larval Odonata genera collected from 186 headwater stream sites in the Neotropical Savanna. Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis detected ecological thresholds in seven Odonata genera (Argia, Brechmorhoga, Cacoides, Gomphoides, Phyllocycla, Progomphus and Hetaerina) revealing them as robust bioindicators (purity and reliability ≥ 0.85). Most Zygoptera were associated with less-disturbed sites and most Anisoptera were associated with more-disturbed sites, but not all genera corresponded to this pattern. Therefore, we recommend using Odonata larvae at the genus-level, versus the suborder level, for constructing improved biomonitoring tools and obtaining more accurate impact assessments of neotropical stream sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After being first recorded in the Maltese Islands in 2013 and successfully breeding on the archipelago's largest island of Malta in 2020 following an unprecedented influx, Pantala flavescens (Fabricius 1798) has again bred successfully on the same island in 2023. 259 exuviae were found at four small reservoirs in the same valley system of Burmarrad, on the island of Malta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odonate assemblages were surveyed in seven sites within the context of the EU LIFE project GREENCHANGE that aims to preserve biodiversity and to enhance the ecological value of the agro-ecosystems of Agro Pontino (Latina, Central Italy) through interventions of ecological restoration. In total 16 species were recorded during the ante-operam surveys in 2019, which represent 28% of the Odonate fauna of the Lazio Region. None of them has a significant conservation interest, however Coenagrion castellani, an endemic Italian species, was observed in a small rivulet near the Pantanello site during an additional field survey. The application of OHI (Odonate Habitat Index) and ORI (Odonate River Index) allowed a detailed characterization of the dragonfly assemblages that are mainly dominated by eurytopic and euryecious species typical of standing waters. The assemblages of Pantanello and Fosso Epitaffio are notable exceptions thanks to the presence of sensitive lentic and lotic species. The main pressures affecting Odonate assemblages identified in the study area are the alterations of aquatic and riparian vegetation, the hydromorphological degradation of running waters, limited water quality and the presence of the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clubtail dragonfly Lindenia heeri sp. nov., is described and figured as the first fossil representative of the extant lindeniine genus Lindenia, based on a finely preserved forewing from the mid-Miocene lacustrine maar of Öhningen, Germany. The new species differs from the type and only species of Lindenia tetraphylla in the dark brown pterostigma covering ten cells vs. only five. Otherwise its forewing venation is identical to that of the modern species. The paleoclimatic data fit well with the climatic preferences of extant Lindenia tetraphylla, consistent with the generally warmer climate of that region during that period of time, allowing for more Mediterranean or even subtropical elements of the flora and fauna to persist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new aeschnidiid dragonfly, Gansuaeschnidia hongi gen. et sp. nov., is established based on three hind wings from the Lower Cretaceous Chijinpu Formation of the Jiuquan Basin, northwestern China. The new taxon is characterised by the strongly closed Ax1 and Ax2, only one row of cells in the lower and middle parts of the discoidal triangle, and subdiscoidal area not divided by a clear AAspl vein. This new discovery indicates that the Chijinpu Formation can be correlated with the Yixian Formation, i.e. the second evolution stage of the Jehol Biota, adding to the diversity of the aeschnidiid dragonflies in China during Early Cretaceous. All taxonomic acts established in the present work have been registered in ZooBank (see below), together with the electronic publication LSID: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An explorative study has been made on the dragonfly fauna of Babuzai, a tehsil in the tourist-attractive district of Swat, Pakistan. The study was conducted between April 2021 and June 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Collection was made from different areas of the study area, which are Odigram, Qambar, Rahim Abad, Gulkada, Islampur, Banr, Mingora, Kokarai, Tindodag, Manglawar, Bishbanh, Saidu Sharif, Marghuzar, Dangram, Jambil, and Sangar. A total of 18 species belonging to 2 families were documented. Libellulidae, with the highest percentage (94%), secured the richest among the familiesFamily Ashenidae was represented by a single species, accounting for 6% of the total documented species. Four species, Orthetrum iuzonicum, Sympetrum fonscolombii, Sympetrum commixtum, and Palpopleura sexmaculata, were reported for the first time for District Swat. The current study contributes to the existing knowledge base regarding the Odonata fauna of district Swat. The findings offer valuable implications for biodiversity management and ecosystem conservation efforts in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, exuviae of Crocothemis sanguinolenta and Zygonyx torridus were collected from southern parts of Iran. Females of Z. torridus were also observed mating and ovipositing in two habitats. According to our data, these two species successfully breed in some suitable microhabitats and are neither immigrants nor vagrants. Our findings based on this research and recent information showed that habitat dispersal for these two species is not limited to the Hormuz Strait region, as previously thought. Suitable habitats for Z. torridus expanded from the Southwest to the East of the country. For C. sanguinolenta, the habitat range covers the far southeastern parts of the country near the Pakistan border area. Based on the geological history of the Persian Gulf region in the last glacial period and similar African coexisting species in these microhabitats, we suggest that these species are relict populations that survived in a few suitable habitats from a wider area in the past. This view seems more appropriate to explain the current distribution of these species than their recent migration from the UAE or Oman regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traits and patterns of time allocation that improve mating success can impose costs with respect to other functions, including thermoregulation. In dragonflies, melanin on their wings can be used as a sexual signal. However, melanin also absorbs solar radiation and can cause animals to overheat in warm temperatures. We examined how dragonfly mating effort and thermoregulatory behaviour change in response to temperature and whether those responses vary based on levels of wing melanin ornamentation in the calico pennant dragonfly, Celithemis elisa. We conducted our study at the northern edge of C. elisa 's range and measured the time spent on mating effort behaviours and thermoregulatory behaviours as a function of ambient and microhabitat temperature in male dragonflies. We found a trade-off between mating effort and thermoregulatory behaviour in response to temperature; time spent on mating effort significantly decreased with increasing temperatures, while time spent on thermoregulation was positively related to temperature. However, we found no effect of wing melanin on behavioural patterns. These findings suggest that, as temperatures rise in response to climate change, some species may be forced to reduce important life history activities (including mating effort) with potential population level consequences for animals living in temperate areas. • Male dragonflies showed a trade-off between mating and thermoregulation. • Mating effort decreased with increasing temperature. • Thermoregulatory behaviour increased with temperature. • Our results suggest that climate change may reduce mating time for male dragonflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding honeybee foraging behaviour optimizes pollinator usage, increasing crop yield, quality, and ecosystem biodiversity, benefiting mustard and other crops. The present investigations were carried out in the experimental field of mustard crop and the apiary at RVSKVV-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Morena, Madhya Pradesh, during 2021-22. Results revealed that a total of 36 species belonging to 8 orders viz., Hymenoptera (12), Diptera (9), Lepidoptera (6), Coleoptera (3), Hemiptera (2), Orthoptera (2), Neuroptera (1) and Odonata (1). The comparative mean abundance among the various bees appearing on mustard flowers revealed that Apis mellifera (15.29 bees/m2/5 min) was the predominant visitor followed by A. dorsata (11.57 bees/m2/5 min) and A. cerana indica (6.81 bees/m2/5 min. It was found that A. mellifera, A. dorsata and A. indica constituted 45.40, 34.37 and 20.23 per cent, respectively. The maximum mean foraging speed during different day hours varied from 3.33 to 8.66 seconds for A. cerana indica 1200 hrs to 1600 hrs, respectively and for A. mellifera it varied from 1.46 to 3.66 seconds at 1800 hrs to 1400 hrs, respectively. Additionally, the highest mean foraging rate during different day hours varied from 10.71 to 21.43 flowers visited/min for A. mellifera during 1800 to 1200 hrs, respectively and the mean foraging rate was lowest for A. cerana indica varied from 5.14 to 12.29 flowers visited/min during 1800 to 1200 hrs, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we provide a checklist of the species of Odonata (Insecta) from the state of Santa Catarina (southern Brazil), along with their location records in the municipalities across the state (whenever possible). We compiled 147 species from 60 genera and nine families, making Santa Catarina the second state with the most Odonata species recorded in southern Brazil. The families with the highest number of species were Libellulidae (54 species from 18 genera), followed by Coenagrionidae (36 species from 17 genera), Gomphidae (20 species from ten genera) and Aeshnidae (15 species from eight genera). Several regions of Santa Catarina are unexplored (mostly the westernmost and central regions of the state), whereas the knowledge in the southern coast and the subtropical highland grasslands remains restricted to sparse occurrence records. Moreover, the distribution records in the state show an enormous historical track associated with the establishment of late entomologists in the region. Our study highlights the role of Atlantic Forest biome in maintaining high levels of diversity of Odonata species richness in Brazil and also shows that many areas in subtropical forests in Brazil are not adequately sampled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Libellula is the property of Gesellschaft Deutschsprachiger Odonatologen e.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Libellula is the property of Gesellschaft Deutschsprachiger Odonatologen e.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Libellula is the property of Gesellschaft Deutschsprachiger Odonatologen e.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urbanization has driven one of the most substantial transformations in water bodies exposing groups such as aquatic insects to new challenging conditions. Some odonate (dragonflies and damselflies) species persist in these transformed environments, but it remains unclear which morphological or behavioral traits allow them to survive. Through a bibliographical review we identified 88 urbanization-tolerant and 87 urbanization-sensitive odonate species worldwide. We searched morphological and behavioral traits and used phylogenetic path analysis for Anisoptera and Zygoptera to test which traits make species more sensitive to urban environments. Our results show that habitat preference was not linked with the sensitivity to urbanization whereas larger species with weak sexual dimorphism stood out as consistently associated with sensitivity to urban environments. For dragonflies, species with yellow to red colorations tend to be less sensitive to urban areas while for damselflies, territorial species tend to be less sensitive to urban areas. We discuss the underlying mechanisms linked to such urban-surviving ability as well as how we can use such information for conservation purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being central to the implementation of conservation policies, the usefulness of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species is hampered by the 14% of species classified as data‐deficient (DD) because information to evaluate these species' extinction risk was lacking when they were last assessed or because assessors did not appropriately account for uncertainty. Robust methods are needed to identify which DD species are more likely to be reclassified in one of the data‐sufficient IUCN Red List categories. We devised a reproducible method to help red‐list assessors prioritize reassessment of DD species and tested it with 6887 DD species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies). For each DD species in these groups, we calculated its probability of being classified in a data‐sufficient category if reassessed today from covariates measuring available knowledge (e.g., number of occurrence records or published articles available), knowledge proxies (e.g., remoteness of the range), and species characteristics (e.g., nocturnality); calculated change in such probability since last assessment from the increase in available knowledge (e.g., new occurrence records); and determined whether the species might qualify as threatened based on recent rate of habitat loss determined from global land‐cover maps. We identified 1907 species with a probability of being reassessed in a data‐sufficient category of >0.5; 624 species for which this probability increased by >0.25 since last assessment; and 77 species that could be reassessed as near threatened or threatened based on habitat loss. Combining these 3 elements, our results provided a list of species likely to be data‐sufficient such that the comprehensiveness and representativeness of the IUCN Red List can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though, works on the taxonomy of Odonata have acquired awareness worldwide, the African continent as well as Egypt is one of the least explored localities. Thus, there is an urgent need to conduct comprehensive taxonomic reviews of the order Odonata in Egypt. In the current work, the dragonflies of the two families Gomphidae and Macromiidae are reviewed. Field trips in 49 localities inside 11 Egyptian governorates did not result in collecting any specimens. Therefore, the study is based only on the materials that are preserved in the main Egyptian reference collections in addition to the previous literature. As a result, a total of two genera and four species for the two families were identified. Taxonomic keys with illustrations of Egyptian genera and species are provided. In addition, diagnosis, world distribution and material examined were given for each species. Also, type genera, type species and type locality are given. The status of the species was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aquatic ecosystem has been suffering a continuous increase of metal contamination such as Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), and Manganese (Mn) due to their inadequate high potential to disturb the aquatic organism population. Meanwhile, some insects such as Pseudagrion microcephalum and Ischnura senegalensis can be used as biological indicators to determine stream health. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between the heavy metal concentration and its effect on the survivability of two different species of damselfly larvae from the family Coenagrionidae; Pseudagrion microcephalum and Ischnura senegalensis. In this study, there is a significant effect of three heavy metal exposures on the survivability of P.microcephalum (F11,180=14.50, P=0.00) and I.senegalensis (F11,180 =15.10, P=0.00). Pseudagrion microcephalum is more tolerable towards Mn (F3,60=13.19, P=0.00) and Zn (F3,60=16.07, P=0.00) at different concentrations compared to I.senegalensis. In the meantime, I.senegalensis was tolerable to Cd exposure. The LC50 value of Cd was much lower than other heavy metals. Besides, the LT50 value of Cd at 200 mg/L was the lowest on P. microcephalum (31 hr) and I. senegalensis (36 hr) compared to other heavy metals. Cd was the most toxic to P.microcephalum and I.senegalensis larvae followed by zinc and manganese (LC50 & LT50=Cd > Zn > Mn). It is concluded that I.senegalensis was tolerant towards Cd, Mn, and Zn compared to P.microcephalum and Cd had the fastest-acting toxicity and significantly reduced the lethal time of mortality on both species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition should play a key role in shaping community assembly and thereby local and regional biodiversity patterns. However, identifying its relative importance and effects in natural communities is challenging because theory suggests that competition can lead to different and even opposing patterns depending on the underlying mechanisms. Here, we have taken a different approach: rather than attempting to indirectly infer competition from diversity patterns, we compared trait diversity patterns in odonate (dragonfly and damselfly) communities across different spatial and temporal scales along a natural competition–predation gradient. At the local scale (within a community), we found that trait diversity increased with the size of top predators (from invertebrates to fish). This relationship is consistent with differences in taxonomic diversity, suggesting that competition reduces local trait diversity through competitive exclusion. Spatial (across communities) and temporal (within communities over time) trait variation peaked in communities with intermediate predators indicating that both high levels of competition or predation select for trait convergence of communities. This indicates that competition acts as a deterministic force that reduces trait diversity at the local, regional, and temporal scales, which contrasts with patterns at the taxonomic level. Overall, results from this natural experiment reveal how competition and predation interact to shape biodiversity patterns in natural communities across spatial and temporal scales and provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence and life cycle of the Ibero-Maghrebian endemic Onychogomphus costae Selys, 1885, was studied over an altitudinal gradient of the Seybouse River in northeastern Algeria. The asynchronous and protracted emergence period showed a "summer" pattern, extending from late April to mid-August and lasting about three and a half months. The proportion of the total emergence period, EM50, at sea level was unusually long, varying annually between 44 and 66 days. No differences in emergence sex ratios were observed in 2015, but in 2016 there was a statistically significant deviation from a 1:1 ratio in favour of females. In both years, the body size of female exuviae at emergence was consistently larger than that of males. The long flight and oviposition period of O. costae extends throughout spring and summer and is responsible for the phenotypic plasticity of the larvae and the asynchrony of their development. Larval growth and development of O. costae are consistent with regulated development and a semivoltine life cycle across the entire altitudinal gradient of the Seybouse River. Nevertheless, some voltinistic flexibility is evident at low elevations, with some individuals exhibiting a univoltine life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The embryonic development of Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) is documented for the first time. In contrast to previously reported insect embryonic development, we describe the embryological development of P. flavescens in living conditions by focusing on its externally recognisable features, i.e., we conducted the study in a purely non-destructive manner. The entire embryonic development was completed within six to seven days. We pictured the eggs at successive embryonic developmental stages: embryogenesis starts, germband formation, segmentation, blastokinesis, appendage formation, and dorsal closure. These findings can be helpful in future studies regarding the impacts of pollutants and climate change on the early embryonic development of dragonflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the human consumption of edible insects is a culturally well documented practice, the nutritional literature of aquatic insects has not been completely covered. The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the proximate composition, fatty acid profiles, and microplastic contamination of edible odonate larvae (Aeshnidae: Anax sp.). Nutrient analysis showed that the proximate composition was a good source of protein (65.70 g/100g dry weight). The major fatty acids were oleic (1.08 g/100g DW) and palmitic acid (1.01 g/100g DW). The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid profile showed an abundance of linoleic, alpha-linolenic, and eicosapentaenoic acids. Total microplastics content found 694 items in the gastrointestinal tract, with a mean abundance of 11.57 items/individual. Five distinct polymers, including polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and cellulose, were identified through chemical analysis of FTIR spectra. Future research should be conducted regarding a comprehensive nutritional study to as method for a nutritional reference on food safety and security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic insects play a crucial role in freshwater ecosystems, and their diversity and distribution are important indicators of ecosystem health. In this study, we present old and new faunistic and distributional data on three orders of aquatic insects (Odonata, Hemiptera, and Coleoptera) in the Tazekka National Park, located in the Eastern Middle Atlas. An annotated list of 85 species is provided, of which 53 were identified from 1023 specimens collected seasonally between summer 2018 and summer 2019 at a total of 19 sampling sites. The remaining 32 species were identified from the literature but were not captured in this study. The 85 species are classified into 47 genera and 24 families, which are divided into 8 species of Odonata, 14 species of aquatic Hemiptera, and 63 species of aquatic Coleoptera. Eighteen of the captured species are new to the Tazekka National Park. A chorological analysis shows that most species are essentially Mediterranean (63%), whilst those whose distribution is wider in Palearctic (25%) or extends into Nearctic, Australian, or Afrotropical regions (12%) are clearly less represented. This chorotype pattern is similar to that observed for OCH in other national parks in northern Morocco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomic studies of dragonfly nymphs were done up to species level using their exuviae. Exuviae, being the last instar larval skin, possess all larval features. These features can be used for the identification of odonate nymphs up to species level. Seven species belonging to the family Libellulidae were identified using the features present on exuviae. This is a non-invasive method that can be used for the taxonomic studies of dragonfly nymphs without rearing them in the laboratory. The study describes the morphological features of seven species of dragonfly nymphs belonging to family Libellulidae using exuviae. A taxonomic key for the identified exuviae were also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the results of studies of the emergence of amphibiotic insects from the old beaver pond on the Yuzhnaya River of the Privolzhskaya Lesostep Nature Reserve in the Upper Khoper basin. The parameters of abundance, biomass, and frequency of occurrence are given for insects from 34 families and 8 orders; the timing of their emergence in different parts of the pond is indicated. The dominant and common species are identified: chironomids Paramerina cingulata (Walk.) and Cricotopus silvestris (F.), biting midges (Bezzia bicolor (Mg.)), chaoborids Chaoborus flavicans (Mg.), and mayflies Cloeon inscriptum (Bgtss.). The intensity of the emergence of insects is 12.10 individuals/m2 per day; the average daily transfer of biomass is 49.23 mg/m2 per day. The analysis of the fatty acid composition and content of the main biogenic elements in adults of amphibiotic insects is carried out. The results of calculations of the energy and matter transfer, including biogenic elements (carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during the emergence of insects from various orders (Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Trichoptera, and Diptera) into adjacent terrestrial ecosystems, are presented. The transfer of wet biomass from water to land is 7.385 g/m2 per year and, in dry weight, 2.216 g/m2 per year; transfer of the main nutrients is carbon, 1.21 g/m2 per year; nitrogen, 0.25 g/m2 per year; and phosphorus, 0.03 g/m2 per year. PUFA transfer is 24.16 kg/km2 per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanized areas can impose selective pressures on insects which can be identified at the individual level based on animal physiological condition. Physiological condition can be measured from variables such as body size, body mass or energetic budget of individuals. We examined whether body mass, wing spot size and energy reserves (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) were reduced as urbanization increases, using adults of two damselflies, Hetaerina americana and H. vulnerata, in Central Mexico. We used a Habitat Integrity Index to assess the degree of urbanization in our sampled sites, considering biophysical attributes and the impact of anthropogenic activities. We did not find relation of above individual variables with urbanization degree. These results support possible resilience of rubyspot damselflies in the face of radical changes such as urbanization. Our finding echoes other results in damselflies research. Implications for insect conservation: Our results highlight the resilience of these damselflies species in the face of urban disturbances. Thus design cities considering not only requirements of humans is essential to promote the presence and conservation of these and other species of insects in cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The probability of occurrence of a given species in a target locality and assemblage is conditioned not only by environmental/climatic variables but also by the presence of other species (i.e., species co‐occurrence). This framework, already complex in nature, becomes even more complicated if one considers the functional traits of species that, in turn, might influence the structure of metacommunities in various ways. Depending on the ecological and environmental setting, functional similarity (i.e., convergence in morphological and ecological traits) between species might either reduce their co‐occurrence due to high niche overlap driving negative interactions or promote it if the similar traits are associated with local habitat suitability. Similarly, functional divergence might either promote species co‐occurrence by limiting negative interactions through niche separation or reduce it through trait mediated environmental filtering. Therefore, discriminating between these alternative scenarios—predicting whether two species will tend to co‐occur or not based on their traits—is extremely challenging. Here, we develop a novel protocol to tackle the challenge, and we demonstrate its effectiveness by showing that ecological species traits can predict species co‐occurrence in a large dataset of North American Odonata. To this end, we first used the Hierarchical Modeling of Species Communities framework to quantify the pairwise species co‐occurrence after controlling for environmental and climatic factors. Then, we used machine learning to generate models which proved capable of predict accurately the observed co‐occurrence patterns from species functional traits. Our approach offers a generalizable analytical framework with the potential to clarify long‐standing ecological questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological and faunistic studies into members of the order Odonata in southeastern Belarus have been carried out. New data for 38 odonata species are provided in the report; three species, Erythromma viridulum, Epitheca bimaculata, and Leucorrhinia pectoralis, are new for the region. Zoogeographically, trans-Eurasian and European odonata species predominate. The most numerous is the family Libellulidae. Most of the collected odonata species are widespread and numerous on the territory of southeastern Belarus; rare for the region are Sympecma fusca, S. paedisca, Erythromma viridulum, Ophiogomphus cecilia, Epithecia bimaculata, Somatochlora metallica, Orthetrum brunneum, and Leucorrhinia rubicunda. The data on finding sites, distribution, and ecological and biological characteristics of each species is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape fragmentation impacts freshwater habitats and their quality, affecting aquatic insect assemblages. Adjacent terrestrial areas are important secondary habitats where amphibiotic insects mature, feed, find mates, and move to locate aquatic breeding habitats. Using a factorial design with 27 small and large ponds within small and large natural patches in an exotic tree plantation-fragmented landscape of South Africa, and odonates as model organisms, we investigated (1) how pond size/natural terrestrial patch size interaction affects odonate diversity patterns versus habitat quality variables, and (2) determined whether anisopterans and zygopterans respond differently to landscape fragmentation. Species richness was similar among ponds. However, odonate abundance was highest in large ponds regardless of natural terrestrial patch size. Zygopteran functional richness and diversity was driven by pond and natural patch size, suggesting that zygopterans are sensitive to landscape fragmentation. In contrast, anisopterans were more resilient to fragmentation and more likely to select suitable habitats following water chemistry and vegetation characteristics. Overall, large ponds were occupied by different odonate assemblages compared to small ponds, and occupancy was strongly associated with mobility traits. These findings emphasize that ponds in both small and large natural terrestrial patches have conservation value. A pondscape that represents various pond sizes is important for maintaining regional odonate diversity. Pond conservation needs to be considered in the wider terrestrial context, which host a range of important secondary habitats. Adjacent natural terrestrial habitats also connect nearby aquatic habitats, which enable insects to move across the landscape in response to natural and artificial drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Components of species diversity involves species richness and relative abundance within a biological community. Hence, this paper is set out to assess the relative abundance, richness and diversity of bottom sediment of macroinvertebrates in Okhuaihe River, Ikpe Community, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria, using standardized analytical techniques. Data obtained reveals that most of the metrics in the sediment samples fell within the tolerable ranges allowed by the Federal Ministry of Environment and the World Health Organization. Dipterans were the majority group among the twenty-eight (28) taxa that made up the 931 individuals collected, and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant difference in the overall density (p > 0.05) between the sampling stations. Shannon (H) showed that Station 2 was more diverse (2.723) and least in Station 4 (2.496), while evenness (E) was highest in Station 2 (0.6342) and lowest in Station 3 (0.5248). Species richness as measured by Margalef’s index showed that Station 1 was highest (4.873) and least in Station 4 (3.99). There was a remarkable presence of Diptera, Coleoptera, Odonata, and Haplotaxida, while the nonappearance of sensitive species suggests possible contamination and pollution. Regular monitoring of the river’s sediment quality, including the activities and effluents that are discharged into the river is advised.

Understanding the ecological determinants of assemblage diversity in freshwater insects is of crucial importance for conservation biology and environmental management. This is particularly true in Haiti, where severe and ongoing environmental degradation of aquatic ecosystems is a major threat to the local invertebrate fauna. Here, using Odonates assemblages sampled from 67 waterbodies belonging to 14 different Haitian watersheds, we assessed species uniqueness (U) from both rarity based on spatial occupancy and taxonomic species distinctness (TSD), and species contribution to total β diversity (SCBD). We assessed between-site variation in species richness (SR), relative taxonomic distinctness (RTD), mean species uniqueness per site (Mean U), and the contribution of individual sites to total β diversity (LCBD), based on presence-absence data. We then examined the relationships between these variables and the physico-chemical characteristics of the sites. In total, we recorded 49 different odonate species (including two endemic species of conservation interest), belonging to 40 genera and 7 families, with a relatively high percentage (69.4%) of rare species (i.e. occurring in 10% or less of sampled water bodies). TSD was negatively correlated with spatial occupancy, while U was significantly higher in Zygopeteran species compared to Anisopteran species. SR varied among the 67 sites, ranging from 2 to 17 species, while SCBD was positively correlated with site occupancy. Differences in assemblage composition between sites were mainly due to species replacement, while only a few sites had assemblages consisting of a subset of larger assemblages found at other sites. The observed positive correlation between dissimilarity and geographic distance between sites further suggests that the turnover of species may take place over some ecological gradient and/or might be explained by species ecological requirements and limited ability to disperse. LCBD and Mean U increased with increasing altitude and decreasing temperature and conductivity, whereas SR and RTD did not. All variables were independent of pH. Overall, SR and RTD were higher in lotic than in lentic sites, and in sites with natural riparian vegetation compared to sites with anthropogenic or mixed riparian vegetation. Mean U provided a relevant index for site selection for odonates conservation in Haiti, whereas β diversity appeared to be of limited interest for this purpose. Globally, our results advocate the importance of conserving a wide diversity of waterbodies to protect Odonate diversity in Haïti, and particularly in forested areas at > 1000 m altitude.

The aim of this study is to examine the Odonata fauna structure and composition in Kabylia’s wetlands (central north Algeria) by sampling 36 potential sites (16 wadis and 20 water reservoirs) in the two main departments of this region, namely, the Kabylia of Djurdjura (Tizi Ouzou) and the Kabylia of Soummam (Bejaia). This region has one of the most important hydrographic systems in Algeria and a wide range of exceptional wetlands due to its important rainfall regime. A lack of studies, especially in the western part of the region (Tizi Ouzou), prompts a specific inventory and ecological analysis of the Odonata population over a period of 6 months (from April to September 2021). Forty species of Odonata have been recorded in Kabylia, of which Pyrrhosoma nymphula represents a new record for Algeria, raising the reference list to 64 species. There are four northern African endemic species and among these, we report on the rediscovery of the critically endangered (EN) Calopteryx exul in Algeria, recorded in the 19th century and deemed to have been extinct after an absence of more than a century; Gomphus lucasii is assessed as vulnerable (VU) and Enallagma deserti and Platycnemis subdilatata are judged as least concern (LC).

AbstractInterspecific territoriality has complex ecological and evolutionary consequences. Species that interact aggressively often exhibit spatial or temporal shifts in activity that reduce the frequency of costly encounters. We analyzed data collected over a 13-year period on 50 populations of rubyspot damselflies (Hetaerina spp.) to examine how rates of interspecific fighting covary with fine-scale habitat partitioning and to test for agonistic character displacement in microhabitat preferences. In most sympatric species, interspecific fights occur less frequently than expected based on the species’ relative densities. Incorporating measurements of spatial segregation and species discrimination into the calculation of expected frequencies accounted for most of the reduction in interspecific fighting (subtle differences in microhabitat preferences could account for the rest). In 23 of 25 sympatric population pairs, we found multivariate differences between species in territory microhabitat (perch height, stream width, current speed, and canopy cover). As predicted by the agonistic character displacement hypothesis, sympatric species that respond more aggressively to each other in direct encounters differ more in microhabitat use and have higher levels of spatial segregation. Previous work established that species with the lowest levels of interspecific fighting have diverged in territory signals and competitor recognition through agonistic character displacement. In the other species pairs, interspecific aggression appears to be maintained as an adaptive response to reproductive interference, but interspecific fighting is still costly. We now have robust evidence that evolved shifts in microhabitat preferences also reduce the frequency of interspecific fighting.

In a two-year field study across 58 isolated wetlands in Texas (USA), we examined whether odonate (Insecta: Odonata) assemblages were structured by local environmental filters or instead simply reflected the use of any available water in this semi-arid region. Cluster analysis resolved three wetland groupings based on environmental characteristics (hydroperiod, water chemistry, vegetation); 37 odonate species were detected at these wetlands. The most speciose assemblages occurred at wetlands with longer hydroperiods; these sites also had the most species found at no other wetland type. Ordination plots indicated some filtering with respect to the hydroperiod, but there was only mixed or weak support with respect to other local factors. Because water persistence was the strongest driver maintaining odonate diversity in this region, regardless of water quality or vegetation, beggars cannot be choosers in this system and conservation efforts can focus on water maintenance or supplementation.

This study presents an integrated dataset comprising occurrence records for 102 Odonata species in South Korea. The occurrence information of the Odonata species was collected from 10 independent field survey-based datasets, spanning the period from 2014 to 2023 and provided by three agencies: National Institute of Ecology, National Institute of Environmental Research, and Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). In addition to occurrence data, the dataset includes information on the survey year, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List classification, satellite-derived spectral indices and bioclimatic variables to provide valuable insights into the survey sites and habitats of Odonata species. By integrating diverse dataset, this comprehensive Odonata dataset can contribute to the validation of habitat-related traits, enhances the national checklist information, and facilitates the identification of rarity and potential habitats for Odonata species in South Korea. The integrated Odonata dataset serves as a valuable resource for ongoing Odonata research and conservation efforts in the study area.

Abstract The probability of occurrence of a given species in a target locality and assemblage is conditioned not only by environmental/climatic variables but also by the presence of other species (i.e., species co‐occurrence). This framework, already complex in nature, becomes even more complicated if one considers the functional traits of species that, in turn, might influence the structure of metacommunities in various ways. Depending on the ecological and environmental setting, functional similarity (i.e., convergence in morphological and ecological traits) between species might either reduce their co‐occurrence due to high niche overlap driving negative interactions or promote it if the similar traits are associated with local habitat suitability. Similarly, functional divergence might either promote species co‐occurrence by limiting negative interactions through niche separation or reduce it through trait mediated environmental filtering. Therefore, discriminating between these alternative scenarios—predicting whether two species will tend to co‐occur or not based on their traits—is extremely challenging. Here, we develop a novel protocol to tackle the challenge, and we demonstrate its effectiveness by showing that ecological species traits can predict species co‐occurrence in a large dataset of North American Odonata. To this end, we first used the Hierarchical Modeling of Species Communities framework to quantify the pairwise species co‐occurrence after controlling for environmental and climatic factors. Then, we used machine learning to generate models which proved capable of predict accurately the observed co‐occurrence patterns from species functional traits. Our approach offers a generalizable analytical framework with the potential to clarify long‐standing ecological questions.

El Área de Conservación Regional (ACR) Choquequirao es un Área Natural Protegida (ANP), ubicada en el departamento del Cusco, Perú. El objetivo de este estudio es presentar un inventario preliminar de Odonata en esta ANP. Se reportan 10 especies pertenecientes a cuatro familias y se añaden comentarios sobre su distribución. Anax amazili, Tramea darwini y Pantala hymenaea son nuevos registros para el departamento del Cusco; además, se amplía la distribución altitudinal de A. amazili y T. darwini en el país, hasta los 2580 m s.n.m. Finalmente, se registra por primera vez a Tramea rustica en Perú. Este estudio contribuye al conocimiento de la odonatofauna peruana en esta ACR; sin embargo, se requieren más investigaciones en esta área y otros departamentos aún no explorados.

Viridiflumineagrion aasei gen. et sp. nov., attributed to the group 'Megapodagrionidae' sensu lato, is described and illustrated on the basis of a rather well-preserved fossil of a small damselfly from the Lower Eocene Green River Formation. It is compared to the other fossil taxa currently attributed to this group. The late Eocene genus Miopodagrion (Florissant, USA) and the early Eocene 'Megapodagrionidae genus and species A' described by Petrulevičius et al. (fig. 4) (Denmark), are the fossils that most closely resemble the new taxon. The new discovery confirms that the damselflies with venations of 'megapodagrionid' type were very diverse during the Palaeogene. . . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Island archipelagos in the South Pacific have relatively high species endemism within the insect order Odonata, specifically damselflies. Nesobasis Selys, 1891, an endemic damselfly genus from Fiji, includes over 20 species, but a clear understanding of its evolutionary relationship to other damselflies in the region is lacking. Scientists have questioned the monophyly of Nesobasis due to variations within the genus leading to the establishment of three divisions provisionally named as: comosa-, erythrops- and longistyla- groups. However, Nesobasis has shown to be monophyletic in previous phylogenetic analyses. Using additional species in this study, we investigate the phylogenetic relationships between Nesobasis and other damselflies from the region, specifically the endemic Vanuatubasis Ober & Staniczek, 2009 from the neighboring island archipelagos of Vanuatu. The relationship between these taxa has not yet been examined with molecular data. Five genes were used in a maximum likelihood phylogenetic reconstruction and examined morphological data to determine the relationship between these genera. Our results recover three distinct clades overall with Vanuatubasis nested within Nesobasis (i.e., non-monophyletic). Vanuatubasis is sister to the longistyla and erythrops groups. The third group, comosa , was found sister to the clade of Vanuatubasis (longistyla + erythrops). As a result of these findings, we propose the new genus, Nikoulabasis gen. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using recently published chromosome‐length genome assemblies of two damselfly species, Ischnura elegans and Platycnemis pennipes, and two dragonfly species, Pantala flavescens and Tanypteryx hageni, we demonstrate that the autosomes of Odonata have undergone few fission, fusion, or inversion events, despite 250 million years of separation. In the four genomes discussed here, our results show that all autosomes have a clear ortholog in the ancestral karyotype. Despite this clear chromosomal orthology, we demonstrate that different factors, including concentration of repeat dynamics, GC content, relative position on the chromosome, and the relative proportion of coding sequence all influence the density of syntenic blocks across chromosomes. However, these factors do not interact to influence synteny the same way in any two pairs of species, nor is any one factor retained in all four species. Furthermore, it was previously unknown whether the micro‐chromosomes in Odonata are descended from one ancestral chromosome. Despite structural rearrangements, our evidence suggests that the micro‐chromosomes in the sampled Odonata do indeed descend from an ancestral chromosome, and that the micro‐chromosome in P. flavescens was lost through fusion with autosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]