Checklist of odonata in the rice fields of India

Odonata is one of the most important predators in the rice ecosystems and their occurrence in rice fields from different parts India was inventoried. Odonata diversity in the rice fields from India comprised of 127 species under 71 genera of 13 families. Anisoptera (Dragonflies) were dominant with 81 species and 52 genera under six families over Zygoptera (Damselflies) (46 species, 19 genera under 7 families). Libellulidae (Anisoptera) was the most speciose family with 53 species and 32 genera followed by Coenagrionidae (Zygoptera) with 27 species and 7 genera. Orthetrum sabina (Drury, 1770) (Libellulidae) was observed to occur in all the rice fields studied across the country. Analysis of Odonata from rice fields in different biogeographical regions of India revealed that the order of dominance of species was: Gangetic Plain Zone (76 species) > Western Ghat Zone (57 species) > Deccan Plateau Zone (54 species) > Semi Arid Zone (39 species) > Northeast Zone (14 species) > Coastal Zone (10 species) > Himalayan Zone (1 species). Odonata in rice fields of the Western Ghat Zone and Deccan Plateau Zone were found to have a maximum of 50.48% similarity.