1. Damselflies captivate with elegance and vibrant hues, enchanting observers with graceful flight.
2. Their slender bodies and intricately patterned wings adorn landscapes with dazzling colors.
3. Colors range from blues and greens to earthy browns, adding beauty to their delicate appearance.
Guwahati, May 15: Damselflies, celebrated for their elegance and vibrant hues, have long enchanted observers with their graceful flight and delicate appearance.
These exquisite creatures, with their slender bodies and intricately patterned wings, adorn the landscapes they inhabit with a spectrum of colors, ranging from dazzling blues and greens to earthy browns.
In a remarkable discovery, researchers from various institutions have identified a new species of damselflies in the Northeast region, aptly named ‘Shade-damselflies’.
These damselflies are characterized by their elongated forms and preference for dimly lit forested areas. The discovery came about during extensive surveys of forests in the Northeast over the past decade.
Adding to the excitement, researchers have recently unearthed two additional species of damselflies in the states of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.
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One of these species was previously known only from Bhutan, marking a significant expansion of its known distribution range into India.
Spearheaded by Dr. Krushnamegh Kunte, the research team includes Shantanu Joshi, Dr. Dattaprasad Sawant, Ujwala Pawar, and Vivek Sarkar.
The identification of these new species presented a unique challenge to the researchers, requiring them to carefully differentiate them from existing species.
To aid in this endeavour, the team collaborated with museums to obtain images that would assist in distinguishing the newly discovered damselflies from their counterparts.
This groundbreaking discovery sheds light on the rich biodiversity of the Northeast region and underscores the importance of continued research and conservation efforts to protect these delicate ecosystems.
The identification of new species not only adds to our understanding of the intricate web of life but also highlights the need for sustained vigilance in safeguarding these natural treasures for future generations to appreciate and cherish.
