Ice Age Dragonfly Rediscovered in Western Ghats

Ice Age Dragonfly Rediscovered in Western Ghats

Why in the News ?

The elusive dragonfly species Crocothemis erythraea, believed to have colonised southern India during the Pleistocene Ice Age, has been rediscovered in the high-altitude regions of the Western Ghats after decades of misidentification with the more common Crocothemis servilia.

Ice Age Dragonfly Rediscovered in Western Ghats

Rediscovery in Western Ghats:

  • Initial Confusion:

    • In 2018, photographs from Munnar high ranges suggested the presence of erythraea.
    • Included in a 2021 monograph on Kerala’s Odonata fauna, but later removed from checklists due to doubts.
  • Field Expeditions (2019–2023):

    • Conducted across high-altitude sites of southern Western Ghats.
    • Confirmed co-existence of servilia (lowlands) and C. erythraea (highlands).
  • Key Finding:

    • erythraea survived in India since the Ice Age, adapting to cooler montane ecosystems of Western Ghats.

Significance of Rediscovery:

  • Scientific Value:

    • Establishes Western Ghats as a refuge for ancient Ice Age fauna.
    • Highlights need for long-term biodiversity surveys in ecologically sensitive regions.
  • Conservation Perspective:

    • Rediscovery reinforces the ecological uniqueness of the Western Ghats (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
    • Protection of high-altitude habitats is critical to safeguard endemism and climate-resilient species.
  • Broader Implication:

Demonstrates how climatic shifts during Pleistocene Ice Age allowed temperate fauna to migrate

  • Offers insights into species adaptation and climate change resilience.

About Dragonflies and Biodiversity :

●     Odonata Order: Dragonflies belong to the order Odonata, important indicators of freshwater ecosystem health.

●     Genus Crocothemis in India:

○      C. servilia → widespread in lowland regions.

○      C. erythraea → known from high-altitude habitats in Europe, Asia, Himalayas, and now reconfirmed in the Western Ghats.

●     Ecological Importance:

○      Act as bioindicators of water quality.

○      Maintain ecological balance by preying on mosquitoes and other small insects.