New records of Lestes nigriceps Fraser, 1924 (Odonata: Lestidae) from Maharashtra, India, with notes on L. patricia Fraser, 1924 and an updated key to Lestes of the Western Ghats, India

Shantanu Joshia,b,c , Dattaprasad Sawantc,d , Akshay Dalvie , Yogesh Kolif , Muhammed Haneefg , Rajesh Sanapa , Krushnamegh Kuntea,c

  1. Biodiversity Lab, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, GKVK Campus, Bellary Road, Bengaluru 560065, Karnataka, India
  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 72703, USA
  3. Indian Foundation for Butterflies, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560097, India
  4. M.D. Community Medicine, Seth G S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400012, India
  5. Department of Natural Resource Management, The Corbett Foundation, Sawantwadi, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, 416510, India
  6. Department of Zoology, Sant Rawool Maharaj College Kudal, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, 416520, India
  7. Department of Botany, Government Brennen College, Thalassery, Kannur, Kerala 670106, India

International Journal of Odonatology, Volume 26, Pages 132-144, 2023
https://doi.org/10.48156/1388.2023.1917217
Published: 16 October 2023 (Received: 11 February 2023, Accepted: 19 September 2023)

Abstract

Damselflies of the genus Lestes Leach, 1815 are represented in India by 11 species. Using specimens collected over the last five years, we report on the rediscovery of Lestes nigriceps in India after 98 years, at two new localities in the Western Ghats. This species was observed at the Aarey Milk Colony, Mumbai, and in the Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India. The diagnosis of the subspecies Lestes patricia taamrpatti Bhakare, Bhoite & Pawar, 2020 is re-assessed, found insufficient for differentiation, and this taxon is synonymized with Lestes patricia Fraser, 1924, as a consequence. We present an updated key to the species of Lestes of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.

Keywords: Dragonfly, Lestes patricia, Lestes, Aarey Milk Colony, range extension, Sindhudurg, species rediscovery, taxonomic key

Issue section: Original Article