~ 12 ~ Acta Entomology and Zoology 2021; 2(1): 12-18 E-ISSN: 2708-0021 P-ISSN: 2708-0013 www.actajournal.com AEZ 2021; 2(1): 12-18 Received: 12-10-2020 Accepted: 08-12-2020 Agnes Deepa A Unit of Conservation Biology, Department of Zoology, Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Selvarasu P Bharathiyar Arts and Science and College for women, Deviyakurchi, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India Gunasekaran C Bharathiyar Arts and Science and College for women, Deviyakurchi, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India Shobana G Bharathiyar Arts and Science and College for women, Deviyakurchi, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India Corresponding Author: Agnes Deepa A Unit of Conservation Biology, Department of Zoology, Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Odonata fauna in adjoining areas of Amirthi Zoological Park in Vellore District, Tamilnadu, India Agnes Deepa A, Selvarasu P, Gunasekaran C and Shobana G DOI: https://doi.org/10.33545/27080013.2021.v2.i1a.24 Abstract The objective of the present study is to explore the diversity of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) in Amirthi Forest Division, Vellore District. Dragonfly watching and recording has been done in each line transect during a week. A total of 37 species belonging to 29 genera and 6 families viz. Lestidae, Platycnemididae, Coenagrionidae (under suborder Zygoptera) and Coenagrionidae, Platycnemididae and Libellulidae (under suborder Anisozygoptera) were recorded. The maximum number of Odonates were found in Libellulidae (n=20), followed by Coenagrionidae (n=11 species), Aeshnidae (n=2 species), Lestidae (n=3 species), Platycnemididae (n=1 species) and Gomphidae (n=1 species). Out of the Site -1 Urban areas, Site -2 Agricultural areas, Site -3 wet land areas and Site - 4 Amirthi park areas are selected study sites, the highest number of Odonate species (28) was recorded in S3 and S2 ranked second with 24 species. Species richness was comparatively low in the remaining Study sites: S4 with 21 species and S1 with 18 species. The result of high species richness in the particular study sites (S3 and S2) may be due to the intensity and duration of longer surveys, rather than true ecological species richness. Among the selected Sites the diversity of dragonflies was high in Agricultural areas and wet land areas. Out of the 37 Odonates recorded from the district, 35 species come under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Category. Among them 37 species comes under Least Concern (LC) Category, one species under Data Deficient (DD) and three species is not evaluated. The present study is to encourages the wide range conservation of dragonfly species in the study area. Keywords: Dragonfly, anisoptera, odonata, insecta, Amirthi Zoological Park Introduction Dragonflies and damselflies (Order – Odonata) are multicolored predatory insects of freshwater habitat and characterized by their elongated body, extended wings and large eyes. The order Odonata is divided into three groups, they are damselflies (Zygoptera), Anisozygoptera, and dragonflies (Anisoptera) (Subramanian K.A., 2019). Odonates breeds are commonly found near aquatic bodies. During the breeding season, adult males generally establish their territories along with wetlands, and sexually mature and receptive females visit territories held by males. Their breeding habitats include both flowing and stagnant water bodies. Odonates have specific habitat requirements. They are also sensitive to changes in landscape and are reliable indicators of wetland health (Andrew, R.J., 2008) [1] . The rural areas have higher species richness as compared to urban areas (Willigalla C. and Fartmann T., 2012) [26] . Odonata, dragonflies and damselflies, constitute a small, well known order of insects that are widely distributed over the world (Tillyard RJ, 1917) [23] . Odonates can be found in almost all kinds of freshwater habitats, permanent running waters, lakes to small temporary rain pools. These are predaceous in nature as well as good indicators of water quality and ecosystem health (Andrew et al., 2008; Tiple et al., 2013) [1, 25] . Odonata larvae reside in aquatic habitats; require very specific environmental condition to survive as they have a narrow range for temperature, oxygen levels, vegetation cover, microhabitats and water quality (Clausnitzer et al., 2009) [4] . These are observed near the ponds, lakes, rivers, ditches and all over the marshy places. Dragonflies (suborder- Anisoptera) have broad head with confluent separated eyes. Wings are dissimilar; hindwings are broadly dilated at base and differ in venation from fore-limbs. Globally 6256 species in 686 genera of odonates have been reported, of which India known to represent 487 species, 27 Subspecies in 152 genera under 18 families (Subramanian & Babu, 2017) [20, 21] . In Tamilnadu, (Kandibane et al., 2005) [10] recorded 12 species in irrigated rice fields of Madurai.