Exploring the Diversity of Odonata (Dragonfly and Damselfly) Fauna of Malka and Mahaban Valley District Buner, Pakistan

Exploring the Diversity of Odonata Fauna of District Buner, Pakistan

Abstract

The current preliminary study was conducted on Odonata fauna of Malka and Mahaban valley, district Buner during October 2019 to October 2020. In this exploration, the focus was on diversity of Odonata fauna of Malka and Mahaban valley district Buner, Pakistan. In this research, a total of 80 specimens of Dragonflies belonging to 11 species under 6 genera and 2 families similarly 70 specimens of Damselflies belonging to 7 species, 6 genera and 5 families were reported from Malka and Mahaban valley Buner. The Dragonfly families are Gomphidae and Libellulidae. The reported species are Onychogomphus bistrigatus (Hagen in Selys, 1854), Trithemis festiva (Rambur, 1842), Trithemis aurora (Burmeister, 1839), Brachythemis contaminata (Fabricius, 1793), Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum (Burmeister, 1839), Orthetrum anceps (Schneider, 1845), Orthetrum triangulare triangulare (Selys, 1878), Orthetrum chrysis (Selys, 1891), Orthetrum chrysostigma louzonium (Burmeister, 1839), Neurothemis fluctuans (Fabricius, 1793) and Crocothemis servilia servilia (Drury, 1773). The Damselfly families are Calopterygidae, Chlorocyphidae, Euphaeidae, Platycnemididae and Coenagrionidae. The species reported are Neurobasis chinensis chinensis (Linnaeus, 1758), Aristocypha quadrimaculata (Selys, 1853), Libellago lineata lineata (Burmeister, 1839), Bayadera indica (Selys, 1853), Copera marginepis (Rambur, 1842), Pseudagrion rubiceps (Selys, 1876) and Pseudagrion decorum (Rambur, 1842). Among Dragonflies, family Libellulidae dominated with (5 genera and 10 species) followed by Gomphidae (1 genus and 1 species). Whereas among Damselflies, family Chlorocyphidae dominated with (2 genera and 2 species), Coenagrionidae (1 genus and 2 species), Calopterygidae, Euphaeidae and Platycnemididae (1 genus and 1 species). Important steps should be taken to save the population of endangered species and further molecular research work will be carried out in Malka and Mahaban valley district Buner Pakistan. The reported species also play active role in biological control.