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Time of India
11-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Over 50 Dragonfly, Damselfly Species Documented at Belvai Odonata Workshop
Mangaluru: A three-day Odonata workshop hosted by Sammilan Shetty's Butterfly Park in Belvai has documented over 50 species of dragonflies and damselflies, including several that are endemic and vulnerable in the Western Ghats. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The residential workshop brought together 13 participants, five volunteers, two expert mentors and the host, Shetty. Field studies were conducted at Ayameri Lake in Marnad, the outskirts of forested regions near Durga and Mala, and the stream–pond ecosystems within the Butterfly Park. "At Ayameri Lake, participants recorded a variety of species associated with open freshwater bodies," Shetty said. These included the Scalloped Spreadwing (Lestes praemorsus), Black-tipped Forest Glory (Vestalis apicalis), Stream Ruby (Heliocypha bisignata), Malabar Torrent Dart (Euphaea fraseri) and Rapacious Flangetail (Ictinogomphus rapax). Larger dragonflies such as Epophthalmia vittata, Macromia irata and Duskhawkers were also seen actively foraging. The workshop was co-led by Dr Dattaprasad Avinash Sawant and Dr Vivek Chandran. Dr Sawant, a physician and odonatologist, has over 15 scientific publications to his credit and serves as an editor at Odonata of India. Dr Chandran, who was recently awarded a doctorate for his research on the Odonates of Kerala's Kole wetlands, is a council member of the Society for Odonate Studies (SOS) and a co-author of new species descriptions from the Western Ghats. Participants learnt how to identify Odonates using characteristics such as wing venation and abdominal patterns, and recorded behaviours such as territoriality, perching, hovering during mating, basking for thermoregulation, obelisk posture, and egg-laying, both endophytic (within plant tissue) and exophytic (on water or other surfaces). Key sightings across habitats included 27 species from the outskirts of the Durga region, including Brown Midget, Lesser Bluewing, Long-banded Bluetail, Coorg Bamboo-tail and Malabar Torrent Dart. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Mala buffer zone recorded many interesting species like Pied Shadowdamsel, Red-spot Shadowdamsel, Coorg Bambootail, Malabar Torrent Dart, Shadowdancer and the rare Montane Forest Glory. From the Butterfly Park, about 24 species were documented, including Long-banded Bluetail, Lesser Bluewing, Orange-tailed Marsh Dart and frequent sightings of Brown Midget. "This workshop helped expand the checklist of Odonates from the region while training the next generation of naturalists. Such programmes encourage keen observation and accurate documentation skills that are crucial for both ecological understanding and long-term conservation," Dr Sawant said. Volunteers Raghavendra, Narendra, Afran, Nithin, and Abhijith provided vital support with field coordination, note-taking, and guiding participants during fieldwork.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Belvai's butterfly park to host first odonata workshop in Western Ghats
Mangaluru: Taking a major step towards documenting odonate diversity and nurturing citizen science , Sammilan Shetty's Butterfly Park in Belvai is set to host the first Belvai Odonata Workshop-2025. This three-day residential programme will focus on the dragonflies and damselflies of the Western Ghats . The workshop will be held from May 30 to June 1, under the SSBCRT initiative, and is open to nature enthusiasts, students, and early-career researchers. Odonates, an ancient order of insects that include dragonflies (anisoptera), damselflies (zygoptera), and the relict group anisozygoptera, are vital indicators of freshwater ecosystem health. He said India boasts over 500 species of odonates, showcasing extraordinary diversity across varied landscapes. The Western Ghats are home to nearly 210 odonate species, of which around 82 are endemic to the region. "Dragonflies are not just stunning to observe; they are key indicators of ecosystem health. This workshop is our attempt to bring more attention to their conservation and to build a community of informed naturalists who can contribute meaningfully to science and nature," said Sammilan Shetty, founder, Butterfly Park. Participants of the workshop will be mentored by Dr Dattaprasad Avinash Sawant, a physician and odonatologist with over 15 scientific publications, and editor at Odonata of India, and Vivek Chandran A, a doctoral researcher working on odonates of Kerala's Kole wetlands, council member of the Society for Odonate Studies (SOS), and co-author of several new species descriptions from the Western Ghats. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Detailers Are Stunned by How Well This At-Home Cleaner Works Make Your Car Look Like New Undo "Participants will get a chance to explore diverse habitats, from shaded forest streams to sunlit ponds, and observe how these microhabitats influence the presence and behaviour of odonates," said Dr Sawant. "They will also learn to identify species using features like wing venation and abdominal coloration, while documenting important behaviours such as courtship and predation," he said. The Butterfly Park itself, nestled in 7.4 acres has been a hub for biodiversity research for over a decade. It documented 158 butterfly species, 125 spider species, over 100 species of mushrooms, 110 species of birds, various amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. "The odonata workshop builds on this foundation of exploration and knowledge-sharing," said Sammilan, who is also the organiser of the workshop. The organisers are offering three free participation slots to eligible applicants and a 25% concession for students with valid ID. Each batch is limited to 15 participants.
