A recent study has revealed a dramatic shift in Pune’s dragonfly population, with eight species vanishing while 27 new species have been discovered. Conducted by researchers and citizen scientists, the study attributes the loss of local species to land-use changes, water pollution, shifting weather patterns, and rapid urbanisation.
Published in the International Journal of Tropical Insect Science the research was led by scientists from Maharashtra Institute of Technology-World Peace University and conducted between 2019 and 2022 across 52 locations in Pune. The city, which falls within the Western Ghats and Deccan Peninsula biogeographic zones, is home to a rich diversity of odonates, the insect order that includes dragonflies and damselflies.
Dragonflies as Environmental Indicators
“Dragonflies play a vital role in controlling mosquito and pest populations in urban environments. Their role in an ecosystem is as significant as that of tigers in a forest,” said Pankaj Koparde, the study’s lead researcher. He emphasised that monitoring dragonfly populations is crucial for assessing environmental health.
The study found that Pune’s total recorded odonate species has now increased to 98, making up 68% of Maharashtra’s total species and 19% of India’s total odonate species. Within the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) region alone, 66 species were identified, representing 67% of the species found in the district and 45% of those in the state.
Pune’s high species richness is largely due to its diverse habitats, including hill streams, waterfalls, rivers, grasslands, dams, ponds, and gardens, which provide ideal breeding and feeding conditions for odonates.
Lost and Newly Identified Species
The study noted that several dragonfly species, such as Aciagrion pallidum, Aciagrion approximans, Microgomphus verticalis, and Hydrobasileus croceus, were last recorded between the early and late 20th century but were not found in recent surveys. Additionally, some recently reported species, mostly damselflies, like Agriocnemis femina, Pseudagrion indicum, and Anaciaeschna jaspidea, were also missing from the current survey.
On the other hand, several new species were identified for the first time in Pune, including Gomphidia kodaguensis, Lestes patricia, Paracercion melanotum, Anax indicus, Bradinopyga konkanensis, and Hylaeothemis apicalis. These discoveries were largely credited to citizen scientists who contributed through platforms like iNaturalist, India Biodiversity Portal, Indianodonata.org, and the Dragonfly SouthAsia Facebook group.
Urbanisation and Habitat Loss a Major Concern
The findings highlight the impact of urbanisation on biodiversity, with pollution, habitat destruction, and changing climatic conditions posing significant threats to dragonflies in Pune. Researchers stress the need for better conservation efforts, wetland restoration, and habitat protection to preserve the delicate balance of this insect population.
With Pune continuing to expand rapidly, the study serves as a wake-up call to ensure that ecological health is prioritised alongside urban development.