Dragonfly groups of conservation interest

confined to the Oriental Region

Dragonflies are classified into three main suborders, the Zygoptera (damselflies), the Anisozygoptera and the Anisoptera (dragonflies). The Anisozygoptera contains just two species and the remaining two groups contain some 6000 described species. The Zygoptera is comprised of 21 families and the Anisoptera contains seven families. Representatives of three dragonfly families are found only in the Oriental Region. These include the Pseudolestidae (Zygoptera) containing just one species, Epiophlebiidae (Anisozygoptera) with two species and the Chlorogomphidae (Ansioptera) with nearly 50 species.

Pseudolestidae (Zygoptera)

The single species contained in the Pseudolestidae is Pseudolestes mirabilis

, which is endemic to the island of Hainan, China. It is a most unusual damselfly. It’s hind wings are much shorter than the forewings and are highly coloured. Above, the hind wings are coloured with patches of orange and black but below the wings are coloured with areas of white and black. Closer inspection reveals the white colour to be formed by numerous tiny scales. Males use their hind wings for display purposes. They will face off against rival males at stream breeding sites both males holding their hindwings in a stationary, downward pointing position, while rising up through the forest canopy (see photo). They can also give the appearance of a bee when threatened and will scull their hindwings to reveal flashes of colour.

Epiophlebiidae (Anisozygoptera)

The Epiophlebiidae is a difficult family to classify. The two extant species contain several features of the Zygoptera damselflies with wings closed together, held over the back of the body and an ovipositor, but also possess many features of the Ansioptera. The family is best considered as a sister group of the Anisoptera. The Japanese species, Epiophlebia superstes is relatively common in Japan but Epiophlebia laidlawi, from India and Nepal is considered rare and is listed as a ‘threatened’ species in the Red Data List of the IUCN.

Chlorogomphidae (Anisoptera)

Although many Chlorogomphids dragonflies have clear wings there are several with spectacular, highly coloured wings. They prefer mountainous regions and breed in fast flowing montain streams and rivers. Adults can be seen soaring high above ravines and around mountain tops. They are found all across the oriental region with highest number of species concentrated in north Vietnam and southern China including Guangxi, Hainan, Guangdong and Taiwan. Perhaps the most spectacular of all is Chlorogomphus papilio from southern China. This is a very large and bulky dragonfly with wings coloured extensively with dark brown and cream patches of colour. In flight it resembles a very large birdwing butterfly hence the name ‘papilio’ meaning butterfly. The females possess extremely broad wings with a depth measuring 31-33 mm. Males have an abdomen length of about 67.0 – 68.0 mm and their hindwings measure between 60.0 – 64 mm. Females’ abdomens measure 59.0 - 61.0 mm and hindwings 67.0 – 72.0 mm.

Oriental Biodiversity and Conservation
IUCN/SCC Dragonfly Action Plan

The IUCN/SSC, Odonata Specialist Group (Moore. 1997) has prepared a Dragonfly Action Plan to address the problems, which threaten dragonflies and make recommendations to conserve them. The plan focuses on the importance of creating protected areas such as nature reserves and conserving important habitats. The Action Plan also contained lists of dragonflies considered to be priority species for further study and conservation action. The priority species from the Oriental region are listed below.

Priority Species [based on recommendations of the IUCN/SSC, Odonata Specialist Group (Moore. 1997)]

Taxonomically isolated Species from the Oriental Region (groups of species found nowhere else outside the Oriental Region)

2.    Monotypic Genera  from the Oriental Region (genera containing only one species)

3.    Dragonflies with unusual biology from the Oriental Region

Reference

MOORE, N.W., 1997. Dragonflies: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Odonata Specialist Group. 27 pp.