Biodiversity of odonates in the paddy wetland of Pannissery Padam near Sreekrishna College, Guruvayur, Thrissur, Kerala

Abstract

The diversity of Odonate in a paddy field near Sreekrishna College, Guruvayur, was studied during the Kharif season from October to December 2024. A visual count was adopted to record the odonate diversity. Out of the 10 species identified and monitored, 4 species were in the suborder Zygoptera of the family Coenagrionidae, and 6 species in the suborder Anisoptera of the family Libellulidae were identified during the study. During the 3-month period, an average of 411 individuals of odonate species was counted. Of these, Pantala flavescens was found in the maximum number, with 320 individuals, followed by Brachythemis contaminata with 40 individuals, Agriocnemis pieris with 25, and A. pygmaea with 22. The Shannon Diversity Index for this region is 2.539 and Margalef Richness Index is 1.828.