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News: Two new species of damselflies have been discovered in the Western Ghats by researchers from Maharashtra and Kerala.
About Konkan Shadowdamsel and Crimson Shadowdamsel
- Both the species belong to the group commonly called ‘Shadowdamsels’ because of their affinity for well-shaded forest habitats.
- Habitat
- These species are endemic to Maharashtra and are restricted to small portions of the hills.
- Shadowdamsels usually thrive in pristine habitats with good canopy cover and small streams.
- Mistaken identity: Earlier, these two species were reportedly mistaken for the Red-spot Shadowdamsel (Protosticta sanguinostigma), described over a hundred years ago by British odonatologist F.C. Fraser from the Nilgiri Hills.
- Specifications
- The Crimson Shadowdamsel has a reddish body.
- The Konkan Shadowdamsel has a coffee-brown ground colouration.
- The Red-spot Shadowdamsel is jet black.
- Threat level: Their threat level still needs to be assessed.
- Threats: They are currently facing the threat of extended plantations.
- Ecologocal importance
- The Shadowdamsels can act as indicators of the health of our forests, since they are only seen in pristine forests.
- They are pollution indicators as well.
Note:
- The species Konkan Shadowdamsel is discovered in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district.
- The species Crimson Shadowdamsel (Protosticta sanguinithorax) is discovered in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district.
