Sixty-nine species of odonates, including those endemic to the Western Ghats, were recorded during the three-day dragonfly survey conducted at the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary here from May 29.
The survey, conducted under the aegis of the Forest and Wildlife Department and the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS), recorded 40 species of dragonflies and 29 species of damselflies, the organisers said on Tuesday. Terming the survey the first ever systematic dragonfly survey in the region, they said 45 odonate enthusiasts from Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu participated in it. The survey was conducted in eight locations in the sanctuary, namely Meenmutty falls, Ramachi falls, Kappil Paripputhodu, Kuruckathodu, Narikadavu, Bhoothankallu, Pookundu, and Valayamchal.
Survey organisers said its highlight was the spotting of Lyriothemis tricolor , a tree-hole breeding dragonfly species, from the Chavachi area of the sanctuary. This was the fourth reporting of the species from the State.
