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Western Ghats dragonfly study uncovers alarming trends
A groundbreaking two-year survey of dragonflies and damselflies in India's Western Ghats has documented 143 species, including 40 found nowhere else on Earth. However, researchers failed to locate 79 previously recorded species, signaling a potential 35% drop in regional populations.
Key findings and concerns
The study, funded by India's Department of Science and Technology and conducted across five states from 2021 to 2023, highlights both the region's biodiversity and its fragility. Lead researcher Pankaj Koparde, an evolutionary ecologist, cautioned that the missing species may reflect either seasonal rarity or local extinctions.
"Dragonflies and damselflies serve as vital indicators of ecosystem health," Koparde noted. "Their decline often precedes broader environmental degradation."
Threats to a biodiversity hotspot
The Western Ghats-a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 1,600 km along India's western coast-hosts over 30% of the country's plant and animal species, including 325 globally threatened ones. Yet, the International Union for Conservation of Nature's 2025 report classified the region as "of significant concern," citing urbanization, agriculture, infrastructure projects, and invasive species as persistent threats.
Recent studies underscore the crisis: a 2025 report documented the disappearance of rare galaxy frogs after habitat destruction by photographers, while a 2024 study linked farming practices to declining frog populations. Additionally, a 2023 bird survey recorded a 75% drop in 12 endemic species.
Fieldwork and discoveries
Koparde's team traversed remote, challenging terrain-including mossy riverbanks and mangrove swamps-to conduct the survey. Their efforts yielded seven new species, one of which, protosticta armageddonia, was named to reflect the global "ecological armageddon" of insect declines.
The researchers are now compiling a genetic library of the documented species to trace their evolutionary origins. Koparde emphasized the Western Ghats' unique geological history, formed 150 million years ago when India split from the Gondwana supercontinent, as a key factor in its rich biodiversity.
Call for conservation action
Despite its ecological importance, the Western Ghats lack comprehensive documentation of its dragonfly and damselfly populations. Koparde stressed the urgency of monitoring these species to inform conservation strategies in one of the world's most critical biodiversity hotspots.
