A recent scientific study has reported 11 species of dragonflies and damselflies, together known as odonates, for the first time from the Sikkim Himalaya, bringing fresh attention to the region’s rich but still less-studied insect diversity. The findings have been published in the international journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, one of the oldest scientific journals in the country. Researchers said the discovery adds important new information to the understanding of biodiversity in the Himalayan region. The study was carried out by Neera Rawat, a Ph.D. scholar in the Department of Zoology at Sikkim University, under the guidance of Professor Bhoj K. Acharya. The research also received joint supervision from Dr K.A. Subramanian, Scientist-F at the Zoological Survey of India’s Southern Regional Centre in Chennai.
Odonates are insects commonly found around freshwater bodies. They are considered important indicators of environmental health because their life cycle depends on both water and land. Their larvae grow in water bodies such as streams, ponds and wetlands, while the adults are usually seen around nearby vegetation. Because of this, a higher number of odonate species often points to a healthy ecosystem. The field study was conducted across different parts of the Sikkim Himalaya, including areas around Gangtok, Jorethang and Mangan. Surveys were carried out between April and October 2024. During this period, researchers set up several study routes along streams and other freshwater habitats to record species. In total, 52 species of odonates were documented during the survey. This included 28 species of dragonflies and 24 species of damselflies. Among them, 11 species were recorded in Sikkim for the first time. These included three damselflies and eight dragonflies.
The newly recorded species are Aristocypha trifasciata, Calicnemia imitans, Coeliccia schmidti, Gynacantha subinterrupta, Lamelligomphus risi, Nepogomphus modestus, Perissogomphus stevensi, Scalmogomphus bistrigatus, Stylogomphus inglisi, Cratilla lineata and Sympetrum orientale. These species belong to different families such as Chlorocyphidae, Platycnemididae, Aeshnidae, Gomphidae and Libellulidae. Before this study, 82 species of odonates were known from Sikkim. With the addition of these 11 species, the total number has now increased to 93. Researchers said the findings show that the Sikkim Himalaya still has many areas that need further study, especially when it comes to insect diversity.