Saffron reedtail damselfly, endemic to Western Ghats, spotted for first time in Karnataka in Madhugundi of Chikkamagaluru

Two naturalists have spotted the saffron reedtail, a rare species of damselfly endemic to the Western Ghats of India, for the first time in Karnataka. They found the damselflies, referred to as Indosticta deccanensis, in the forests along the Nethravati river in Madhugundi village near Sunkasale in Chikkamagaluru district last year. Earlier, the damselflies were noticed in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Two naturalists have spotted the saffron reedtail, a rare species of damselfly endemic to the Western Ghats of India, for the first time in Karnataka. They found the damselflies, referred to as Indosticta deccanensis, in the forests along the Nethravati river in Madhugundi village near Sunkasale in Chikkamagaluru district last year. Earlier, the damselflies were noticed in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Tejas Mehande and Ajith Padiyar spotted five individuals of the species during their regular research work near a stream. They photographed them and also published a research paper in the quarterly journal Entomon. According to the research paper, this was the first record of the species in the northernmost part of the Western Ghats.

Madhugundi is a village in Mudigere taluk that suffered the worst floods during heavy rains in 2019. Many houses were damaged due to the landslips, and the residents were forced to take shelter in relief centres. People hardly stay in the village now.

The damselflies of the Indosticta deccanensis species are commonly called saffron reedtail because of the saffron bodies. They are seen in streams surrounded by thick vegetation. Mr. Padiyar, a postgraduate in wildlife and management, who works as a naturalist at River Mist Resorts at Madhugundi, told The Hindu that the particular species belongs to the family Platystictidae, commonly referred to as shadow damselflies.

The discovery in Madhugundi would help in understanding the richness of biodiversity in the forests of the area. “Prior to this discovery, the distribution of these damselflies was documented in the southern parts of the Western Ghats. Finding them in Madhugundi extends its known range northward, suggesting that the species may occupy a larger area than previously thought,” he said.

“They are slender and delicate insects, usually found near slow-moving forest streams where they rely on pristine water quality for their lifecycle. The presence of them is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem, as they are highly sensitive to environmental changes and pollution. It also emphasises the need to protect the pristine habitats from deforestation, water pollution, and climate change,” he added.