Research article

BIODIVERSITY AND TAXONOMIC STUDY OF ORDER ODONATA FROM DISTRICT MULTAN, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN.

Arslan Rafique1, Zahid Mahmood Sarwar1**, Nazeer Ahmad2, Ashwag Shami3, Rania Ali El Hadi Mohamed3, Fahd Mohammed Abd Al Galil4, Pravej Alam5

Online First: October 29, 2022


Odonata is a very important predator of wetland and agro-ecosystem because they feed on larvae of mosquitoes and syrphid flies. A few years before observed that the population of Odonata decreased very rapidly due to the excessive use of chemicals on pounds and other aquatic environment to control the mosquito and housefly populations. Reductions of these populations have huge effects on the beneficial insect-like Odonata population. Adults of Odonata feed mainly on immature Diptera. Dragonflies are predators of both stages of dipteran, first at the aquatic stage, as nymphs or naiads, and as well as adults. They move and fly very rapidly fast; sometimes, they move and migrate from one ocean to another ocean mostly found near the water. Some Odonata species live several years beneath the water surface and feed on small animals, tadpoles, small fish, and other invertebrates. Biodiversity and taxonomic study of order Odonata play a crucial role in the species identifications and classification of specific insects in a specific area. For this purpose, the survey tours were conducted in different localities of district Multan. Data were collected daily using an aerial net. After collecting phase, specimens were killed in a potassium cyanide jar. Later on, specimens were spread and preserved in wooden boxes. The samples were identified up to species level with the help of taxonomic keys and available literature. As a result, 20 species were identified based on morphology and physiology. These were also cross-checked from National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) Islamabad. The identification keys, Photography of adults, and wings were also provided.

Keywords

Biodiversity, Odonata, District Multan, NARC Islamabad.