In News:

For the first time, the Saffron Reedtail Damselfly, a rare and endemic species of the Western Ghats, has been recorded in Karnataka.

This significant discovery was made in Madhugundi village, Chikkamagaluru district, along the Nethravati River. The findings were published in the journal Entomon.

Key Facts:

• Scientific Name: Indosticta deccanensis
• Common Name: Saffron Reedtail
• Family: Platystictidae (commonly known as shadow damselflies)
• Appearance: Slender, delicate body with a characteristic saffron coloration
• Habitat: Prefers slow-moving forest streams surrounded by thick vegetation; requires pristine water quality

Ecological Significance:

• Indicator Species: Highly sensitive to environmental changes and pollution, indicating a healthy, undisturbed ecosystem.
• Biodiversity Implication:
  • Previously recorded only in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
  • The first sighting in Karnataka (northern Western Ghats) extends the known range of the species, suggesting it may be more widely distributed than earlier believed.

Conservation Relevance:

• The discovery underscores the ecological richness of the Madhugundi forests, which were severely affected by floods and landslides in 2019.
• Highlights the urgency to protect fragile ecosystems from deforestation, water pollution, and climate change, especially in biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats.

About Damselflies (Order: Odonata):

• General Features:
  • Predatory, aerial insects
  • Slender bodies with net-veined wings
  • Fly weakly compared to dragonflies
  • Mostly inhabit freshwater habitats