New Damselflies from Arunachal Pradesh & Nagaland

Why in News?

Recently, a Mumbai-based doctor and wildlife researchers discovered 7 new species with the findings published in the journal Zootaxa.

• Damselflies are an Odonate species within the suborder Zygoptera.

Dragonflies and damselflies constitute the insect order Odonata, and are collectively known as odonates. These predatory, amphibious insects are known for their aquatic larvae and terrestrial, winged adult stages.

• Scientific Names
  • Calicnemia ardena (Fiery Oread)
  • Calicnemia Arunachala (Broad-striped Oread)
  • Calicnemia flavovittata (Yellow-striped Oread)
  • Calicnemia mimumkoa (Epsilon Oread)
  • Calicnemia naga (Tiger Oread)
  • Calicnemia rubromacula (Red-spotted Oread)
  • Coeliccia magna (Greater Sylvan)
• Genus –
  • Calicnemia
  • Coeliccia
• Discovery – With these discoveries, India now hosts 14 species of the genus Calicnemia, making it a global hotspot for the genus.
• Habitat – Freshwater habitats, forest streams, and hill habitats.
• Distribution – Mainly discovered in the Upper Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh and Some records from Nagaland
• Key Characteristics – Usually slenderer, with eyes separated and wings folded together along the body at rest.
• Key Identification
  • Fiery Oread has orange spots on its head.
  • Broad-striped Oread has broad stripes on the thorax.
  • Yellow-striped Oread for its yellow stripes on the thorax.
  • Epsilon Oread for ‘e’-shaped genitalia
  • Tiger Oread for its yellow and black bands on its face.
  • Red-spotted Oread has a red spot on its abdomen.
  • Coeliccia magna is the largest size in Indian Sylvans.
• Variation – Scientists identified the species by studying the shape of a special male reproductive part called the genital ligula, which helps distinguish different damselfly species.
• Unique split filaments – Two species (C. ardena and C. rubromacula) have short, split reproductive filaments, which led researchers to create a new group called the “ardena group.”
• Diet – Feed on insects like mosquitoes, flies, midges, moths, and butterflies, often catching them mid-air.
• Threat – Damselflies' life cycle depends on clean water habitats.
• Ecological Significance – Odonate species are known as ecological bioindicators of healthy, clean wetlands.  
• Highlights the rich biodiversity of Northeast India
• Odonates helps to control populations of other insects, including mosquitoes.

References

1. Midday | New Damselfly Species Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh
2. EastMojo | New Damselfly Species Discovered