Arthropods

Vol. 3, No. 2, 1 June 2014

International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences

Arthropods
ISSN 2224-4255
Volume 3, Number 2, 1 June 2014

Editor-in-Chief
WenJun Zhang
Sun Yat-sen University, China
International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong
E-mail: zhwj@mail.sysu.edu.cn, wjzhang@iaees.org

Editorial Board
Andre Bianconi (Sao Paulo State University (Unesp), Brazil)
Anton Brancelj (National Institute of Biology, Slovenia)
Hans-Uwe Dahms (Sangmyung University, Korea)
A. K. Dhawan (Punjab Agricultural University, India)
John A. Fornshell (Northern Virginia Community College, USA)
Xin Li (Northwest A&F University, China)
Oscar E. Liburd (University of Florida, USA)
Ivana Karanovic (Hanyang University, Korea)
Enoch A Osekre (KN University of Science and Technology, Ghana)
Rajinder Peshin (Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and
Technology of Jammu, India)
Michael Stout (Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, USA)
Eugeny S. Sugonyaev (Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia)

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Arthropods, 2014, 3(2): 96-110

Article

Health assessment of pine forest as affected by geothermal activities:

Presence of Monterey pine aphid, Essigella californica (Essig)
(Homoptera: Aphidae) associated with higher concentrations of boron
on pine needles

Adolfo Arturo Del Rio Mora

Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Avenue San
Juanito Itzícuaro,s/n, C.P. 58330, Morelia, Michoacán., México
E-mail: aadelrio54@gmail.com

Received 13 February 2014; Accepted 20 March 2014; Published online 1 June 2014

Abstract
Studies on assessments of the air pollution and deposition caused by geothermal fields on the forest health and
presence of pests have been few documented to date. In the geothermal field “Los Humeros”, located between
the borders of the states of Puebla and Veracruz, Mexico was realized a forest health monitoring to know the
assessment could have these emissions of sulphur (S) and other two chemical elements measured by their
concentrations on leaf tissues in the surrounding forests. For it were evaluated the forest healthy and pest
insects registered at 20 stands of which were chosen completely at random 40 trees in total/site of the species
Pinus montezumae and P. teocotein natural stands and plantations and picked up leaf tissue samples
representatives per stand to determine the contents of sulphur (S), boron (B) and arsenic (As) representing each
forest stand. The results of the study revealed that the presence of forest pests are not related to the proximity
of the sites to emissions from stationary sources of emissions and moreover the amount of these 3 chemical
substances monitored do not have none influence on the forest healthy sites condition, except for the Monterey
pine aphid Essigella califórnica Essig, which seems to be directly associated with higher Boron content
in the needles (mean=167.47± 32.15, and peak 635.46 ppm) and proximity of emission sources geothermal
vents or where it is believed all these chemical elements are carried down by air currents to specific
points and deposited in the stands. The general model obtained and with significance of R2=56.6 and P value
0.0033 for the presence of Monterey Pine aphid and the three main pollutants released from smoke plumes in
geothermal systems is [D: Essigella]= -0.2088 + 1.880E-0.5 (A:SO4)+ 0.002245 (B:B) + 1.248 (C:As). The
results suggest the use of aphid species as bioindicators of polluted sites.

Keywords forest health monitoring; Monterey pine aphid; sulphur; boron; pollution; geothermal field; acid
rain.

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1 Introduction
Geothermal activities represent open-loop systems emit hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane,
and boron. Hydrogen sulfide and this last is the most common emission and has been the substance more
studied by its cumulative effects on vegetation.
Once in the atmosphere, Hydrogen sulfide changes into sulphur dioxide (SO2). This contributes to the
formation of small acidic particulates that can be absorbed by the bloodstream and cause heart and lung
disease (National Research Council, 2010). Sulphur dioxide also causes acid rain, which damages crops,
forests, and soils, and acidifies lakes and streams (Agrawal et al., 1999; Priyanka et al., 2012). However,
SO2 emissions from geothermal plants are approximately 30 times lower per megawatt-hour than from coal
plants, which is the nation’s largest SO2 source.
Geothermal plants also produce small amounts of mercury (Hg) emissions, vanadium (V), silica
(SiO2 ) compounds, chlorides (Cl-), arsenic(As), nickel (Ni), and other heavy metals (Kagel, 2007, 2008).
In soil science and plant physiology it is accepted that the amount absorbed of macro and micronutrients
by the vegetables are in a direct function of the quantities in which they are available and similar to the ground,
by natural mineralization processes, while another part, therefore, is fixed directly through to atmospheric
deposition processes (Prajapati, 2012; Meravi and Prajapati, 2013). Indeed, major problems occur when
comparing the nutrient content in the leaf tissue through space and time: Nutrient concentrations of foliage of
conifers varies depending on the soil content nutrients (Bell and Ward, 1984) and the Woodland age and
foliage ( Florence and Chong, 1974; Mälkönen, 1974; Miller et al., 1981; Madgwick et al., 1983; Santerre et
al., 1990), with the position of the needles in the twigs (Mead and Will, 1976) and annual physiological cycle
(Kazda and Weilgony, 1988; Helmisaari, 1990). Consequently it is very difficult to adequately control the
inherent variation foliar during sampling. Additionally, the exact nature of this variation has been identified for
some species and nutrient dynamics of many tree species is still unknown. Various nutrients, including
Potassium(K), Nitrogen(N), Phosphorus(P), Boron(B) and Magnesium(Mg), are very mobile and can therefore
be prone to wide variation in function of time.
Accumulation of deposit substances in forests into processing annual deposition of NOx, chlorides (Cl-)
and sulphur (S), solubility of heavy toxic metals due to air pollution on the soil surface—contributing to its
constant acidification- and further transport through the soil profile into seepage and ground water down and
directly under the tree crowns and their effects on forest health is evident (Van Breemen et al., 1988; Brechtel,
1989; Vrbek et al., 2006; Janik et al., 2012; Raju et al., 2013).
The main object of this research made in summer of 2010 was to understand the possible relationship
between air pollutants concentration and forest health condition associated to the presence of Monterey pine
aphid, Essigella californica (Essig).

2 Methodology
Forest health monitoring was organized with the aim of measuring the current state forest resource conditions
and was performed according to the geographical location of the 20 sampling sites or stands and in each of
them proceeded to make a quadrant radiating from the center and following the cardinal points (north (N), east
(E), south (S) and west (W)) by drawing equidistant from the center line of 25 meters, according to Innes
(1993). The standard method of plot assessment is lo locate four sub-plots on each plot and then to where at
each end (edge) were chosen for evaluation and count 10 trees in visual point immediately surrounding per
each ones of 4 edges per site, so that all the sites were diagnosed a total of 800 trees, which recorded the tree
species, their plant condition according to 6 categories of vigor described by Vorontzov et al. (1991; Fig. 2)
and Del Rio and Petrovitch (2011) as method for measuring the stress condition, presence or absence of pests

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or diseases, according trees crown visuals changes scales regarding generally grades of trees colonization
attacked by bark beetles and other agents mostly, but is very useful when focused measuring the environmental
stress on canopy and this relation is named semiology.

Fig. 1 View of a smoke plumes in geothermal system “Los Humeros”.

Fig. 2 Visual representation of 6 vigor categories in pine plantations (Vorontzov et al., 1991).

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Fig. 3 Geographical distribution of the 20 stands monitored surrounding the geothermal zone: “Los Humeros”, Puebla, Mexico
(Source: CFE, México 2010).

The area was considered for this study as Geothermal Field “Los Humeros”. It covers an area of 15,600
hectares in this area and is directly across the infrastructure including geothermal field (Fig. 1). They are
located in the eastern part of the state of Puebla, Mexico, between parallels 19º37’03’’ and 19º43’32’’ north
latitude and between the meridians 97º22’39’’ and 97º30’07’’ west longitude (Fig. 3). Forest healthy
monitoring and samples of leaf tissue were performed in summer of 2011 and the selection of sampling sites
was based on regionalization in homogeneous units, in each of which using a stratified random sampling
(Darwich, 2003) (Fig. 1), were located 20 sampling sites (Fig. 8) focused for knowing the forest healthy
conditions so far, besides picked up for each site samples of leaf tissue to determine the contents of sulphur
(S), boron (B) and arsenic (As) representing each forest stand studied.
Samples mixed and homogenized of leaf tissue of 200 grs representatives for each one 20 sites were
collected depending of existing woody vegetation sampling sites on the middle crown and second year
growing allocated and according on tree species composition and representativeness or dominance, mostly
Pinus teocote, Pinus pseudostrobus and Pinus montezumae. Samples were collected from the middle layer of
foliage, different corners of the tree and old leaves (neither old nor too young) and considering the case of the
development pines averaging less than two years, because according phenological estimates in this period
includes the drivers vessel occlusion of needles, their drying and fall, process named “natural needle
abscission” (Everett and Thran, 1992). Subsequently collected twigs were placed in plastic bags with side
holes, to avoid sweating of the sample, and labeled with site information (no. of sample, location, geographical
coordinates, location, etc.) And tree characteristics (species, condition of vigor, tree height, vegetation,
phenological stage and persistence of needles of different ages in branches composed of internodes, vegetation
type) and finally preserved in snack average temperature of 15ºC, after his laboratory.
Once tissue samples obtained fuck were sent for analysis to a private laboratory duly certified by the
Mexican Accreditation Entity (EMA). The analytical techniques and chemical parameters used for needles

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samples were: for sulfates (SO4) with analytical technique As-20, for boron (B) AS-15, according
environmental standard approached for the determination of both parameters by Nom-021-SEMARNAT-2000;
for the case of Arsenic (As) trials with hydride generator and under the standard of the Nom-147-
SEMARNAT/SSA1-2004.
Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPadInStat software versión 3.06.32(2003) to related the
concentration of the three most important contaminants of air pollutions widespread by smoke plumes of the
geothermal fields (Wang et al., 2002) and the presence or absence of the Monterey pine aphid colonies on 20
stands monitored.

3 Results and Discussion

3.1 Actual conditions of stands evaluated and forest pests
In general, the presence of main pests and diseases on the 20 stands monitored are directly related to the stand
conditions such as species composition and age, and them are independent of if the sites are nearby of any
source of fumes of the geothermal wells and moreover on contents of sulphur (S), boron (B) and arsenic (As)
on foliar tissues analysed, except for the case of Monterey pine aphid Essigella californica (Essig) , as it is
seen forward. Fig. 2 shows the percentages of abundance of the main forest pests and diseases associated to
each ones of the 20 stands surrounded the geothermal field “Los Humeros, Puebla, Mexico and where the most
important are: the dwarf mistletoes (Arceuthobium gland solobosu subsp. grandicaule), tip borer beetle:
Pityophthorus aztecus (Bright) (Coleoptera: Scolytinae), Cone borer: Conophthorus ponderosae (Hopkins),
The Monterey pine aphid and Pitch canker: Fusarium circinatum (Pitch canker).

Fig. 4 Percentages estimated of the presence of the main forest pests and diseases registered during the forest health monitoring
in the Geothermal field “Los Humeros”, Puebla, Mexico.

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Fig. 5 Total percentages (%) of Pine species(Diameter<15 Cm, >15 Cm) associated with damages by insects, diseases,
antropogenic damages and others in the 20 stands monitored.

Furthermore, it is also known that even trees of the same species, age and grow under the same site,
physiologically react differently to external physical factors and biological component or with different genetic
variability between individuals, and so for example, is observed this response by measuring the retention of
needles, premature abortion of buds, erratic growth and presence of symptoms in response to pollutants, soil
nutrient deficiencies or answering the activity originated as a result of feeding any sucking insect.
The presence of forest pests (except for the Monterey aphid pine Essigella califórnica Essig) and
evaluated are independent of the concentrations of different chemical elements obtained from the analysis of 3
pollutant element concentrations of needles and leaves tissue and most effective condition of the sites
evaluated.
On the other hand, it is also noteworthy that even trees of the same species, age and growing under one
site, physiologically react differently to physical and biological factors external and also with your component
or different genetic variability between individuals and thus for example, shows this response by measuring the
retention of needles, premature abortion buds and erratic growth symptomatology in response to contaminants,
soil nutrient deficiencies either in response to the activity arising as a result of feeding a sucking insect, as is
our case Essigella californica (Essig).
Forest pests are preferably in stand conditions in place such as quality and quantity of hosts, primarily,
not directly related to the condition of vigor and quality index(Del Rio and Petrovitch, 2011), it depends more
on the degree of growth of the stands (diameters and shape of the trees crown). The apparent lack of direct
correlation pollutants (S, B) emitted from stationary sources of fireplaces geothermal wells and the
concentration of these in leaf tissues may be due primarily to the source of variation that involves having used
forest species mix for foliar tissue analysis and since each plant has its own capabilities and physiology for

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fixing through the leaf tissue and translocation of elements and compounds, so it is appropriate to emphasize
the need to test with specific forest species bioindicators effective and are used as "markers or tracers" to more
accurately perform phytomonitoring contaminants. Also the time of sampling to select those species
phytoindicators be made in periods of less physiological activity, ie to obtain leaf tissue for analysis in winter
period, in such a way that the discussion here and reduce sources of variation that may contribute to obtain
clearer results in this aspect.
3.1.1 Concentrations of substances on the leaf tissue
Table 1 shows the median, minimum and maximum values concentrations in ppm/dm corresponded to
contents of 3 substances obtained from 20 needle tissue samples analyzed and representative for each stand
monitored.

Table 1 Results of leaf tissue contents of 3 substances monitored.

Substance Mean Minimum value Maximum value Standard error Variation

coefficient

S, ppm 1373 884.6 1966 72.9 23.74%

B, ppm 167.5 72.22 635.5 32.15 85.5%

As, ppm 0.0025 ---------- 0.0260 0.001402 142.49%

Fig. 6 Representative levels of sulphur and boron (Mean with SEM, left) in leaf tissue from the 20 stands monitored in the
Geothermal Field “Los Humeros”, Puebla, Mexico.

The contents of sulphur (S) and boron as results of the leaf chemical contents can be found in Fig. 6. As
can be seen, for the case of sulphur (S), 3 and 20 sites were those with greater concentration in leaf tissue with
respect to the other sites, however, the statistical analysis gave a value of P> 0.10 and a normal distribution, so

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that differences in the concentration f this element does not vary significantly between sampling sites,
and meeting 75% of the values in the 1550 ppm and 25% in 1098 ppm. Between the content of boron (B) and
sulphur (S) relationship is not apparent in their concentrations and foliar sampling sites, in the case of b oron
that have 25% of their concentrations fall in the average size of 80.19 ppm and 75% at 224.1 ppm,
highlighting the sites 12 and 17 as the highest concentration of the element in leaf tissue P value 0.0014 fails
the test of normal distribution (alpha = 0.05), so here are significant the differences between the values
obtained from the respective sites and described above, similarly to the case arsenic (As) with a P<= 0.0001,
where the site 1 and 12 have the largest concentrations.
Of the heavy metals, halides, and non-metals with nutrient and pollutant character (Kratz, 1991, Markan,
1992) analyzed in pine needles, reported than concentrations of sulphur>1,700 in mg/kg dm represent over-
nutrition or strong toxic influence as a pollutant, which is a good reference could indicate that our study area
there is toxic effects on forest land due to this substance.
In addition, we report here some of the current effects (expressed in forest health visual symptoms
described here) that presumably could be exerting the swarming discharged into the atmosphere as a result of
geothermal activity that takes advantage and that with time and the dynamics of forest stands , coupled to the
greenhouse effect of the earth and site-specific conditions, could change the picture of vigor and trees health
by effect cumulative of pollutants in the ecosystem, reducing their growth rates and lead to acceleration
processes leading to a dispersion of forest decline; in these places.
When making direct observations and measurements in some pine tree groups growing immediate or
nearby the source of the fumes of the geothermal wells where the direct effects of high temperatures besides
continuously exposition of these to the CO2 and SO4, is common and notorious recording in needles the
following symptoms in two ways, either separately or in combination: a mottled yellow bands and tips with
brown necrosis down from 10% at baseline on the surface and reaches up to 80-85% of drying before aborting
or fall to the ground in full bundles or with the twig of first (more commonly in these conditions and
permanent direct exposure) or second year with apical buds dry and very little development in terms of
elongation over the age of trees (Fig. 7). It is very common this process is associated with fungal grown needle
cast, Lophodermiun pinastri, pathogen associated turn to Ozone damage (Costonis, 1968); Gradually the
final effect is to see number of trees in defoliation process of partial and total up the drying and death of
trees.

Fig. 7 Direct effects on necrosis needles and premature buds abortion due to high temperatures and continuously exposition to
emissions of CO2 and SO4 of the fix sources of the fumes of the geothermal wells.

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Same process, and less noticeable symptoms was described in more distant forest sites away from fumes
geothermal where those due to wind action, contaminants: H2S, B and As are deposited on trees edges growing
together roads and fragmented forests and giving visually call originated the term “edge effects” most
likely due to that the trees not protected by others and placed inside the edge of the forest, have greater leaf
area with minimum mutual shadow, which brings greater potential for high photosynthetic rates (Krebs , 1985)
which may contribute a greater surface deposition of pollutants, translocation and fixation, so that in this way
more clearly manifest symptoms and damage to trees, although the results of leaf tissue did not have such a
relationship as expressed directly. Already in trees located in central points of the sampled sites on higher trees
density in stands this is much less noticeable and can be confused with the natural process of abscission, added
symptoms of tip necrosis on needles (Fig. 8) could be associated too with damages caused by ozone (O3)
(Sikora and Chappelka, 2004), damage caused by acid rain or a combination of several of these factors, in the
absence of any pathogen or needle diseases.

Fig. 8 Edge effects on tip necrotic needles: possible damages caused by ozone or charge cumulated of air mixed pollutants.

The apparent lack of direct correlation pollutants (S, B) emitted from stationary sources fireplaces
geothermal wells and the concentration of these in the leaf tissues may be due primarily to the source of
variation that involves having used forest species mixed for foliar analysis as each plant has its own
capabilities and physiology for fixing through the leaf tissue and translocation of elements and compounds, so
it is appropriate to emphasize the need to test with specific tree species phytoindicators effective and are used
as markers or tracers to perform more accurately phytomonitoring pollutants. Also sampling time to select
those tree species must be made in periods of less physiological activity, i.e. to obtain leaf tissue for analysis
in winter period, in such a way that the discussion here and reduce sources of variation that may contribute to
clearer results in this regard.
Forest decline processes have been associated with air pollution, so as chemical group Sulfides have been
studied in detail. In this regard, the range of organic and inorganic sulphur gives a better index of the impact
which causes Sulphur dioxide in the vegetation. Under heavy air pollution conditions, the sulphur content in
conifer foliage increases with time (Dubová and Bublinec, 2006; Materna, 1982; Penka and Cervená, 1985),
though sulphur in the foliage rises with the age of the needles, therefore, the age of the foliage is important
when it comes to making estimates. Sulphur contents are therefore generally higher in mature needles upper
cup portions most exposed. Under short harvesting forests store more sulphide and therefore suggest that
exposure of the glass is an important factor influencing the content of sulphur in the leaves. However, use short

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bring with subsequent increases in tree growth and which in turn can interact increased assimilation of Sulfides
from the root.
The s ulphur content to the course varies pollution tour (Van der Stegen and Myttenaere, 1991).
Atmospheric deposition is the result of high levels of contamination of surfaces, while the Sulphur absorbed
through the roots tend to be translocated to the undersides of the leaves. However, it can also give an amount
of translocation sulfide carry leaves exposed to unexposed.
Sulfide concentrations were estimated from a study of the elements content in needles of Picea
abies, which were generally high levels of 0.168% and the upper level of 0.331% was recorded under
conditions of Sulfide ore reserves of the place that influenced results. (Evers and Schopfer, 1988). The trend in
the concentrations in the needles approach agreed with the concentrations of Sulphur dioxide and a similar
pattern has been found in other species (Li and Zhang, 1989). Phytotoxicity problems are expected when
Sulphide concentrations exceeding 0.17% (Evers, 1984) or 0.2% (Zöttl, 1985).
In another study in Poland, with the same species (Picea abies) plus Notophagus menziesii and Abies alba,
which have been used as good biomarkers in pollutant dispersion mapping based on emission sources, noting
that the second-year needles concentration of Sulfides containing more than newer ones in general and
forests in high elevations also have the highest concentrations, regardless of the distance at which emission
sources are Sulphur dioxide, suggesting that the deposition of sulphur is greater at higher altitudes or that the
content of the element in the soil was providing a significant amount (Grezta et al, 1989).
Ammonia and boron were creating serious problems in the brine geothermal to the delta of the river
Hardy and it is known that Boron accumulation in plants, insects, and fish have shown that Boron bio-
accumulates in plants but does not bio-magnify in aquatic food-chains, according United Nations Environment
Programme by International Programme on Chemical Safety, Environmental Health Criteria 204 referent to
Boron.
Boron is absorbed by a water flow through the plant roots in the form of non-dissociated boric acid,
follows the flow of transpiration, and is transported only in xylem since it is largely immobile in phloem.
Ammonia and Boron were creating serious problems in the brine geothermal to the delta of the river Hardy
(Austin, 1966).
Boron enters the environment mainly through natural processes and, to a lesser extent, from human
activities. from volcanic activity and other geothermal releases such as geothermal steam.
On the other hand, among the content of boron (B) and sulphur (S) is not seen in relation
concentrations and foliar sampling sites, for the case of Boron that have 25% of their concentrations fall in the
average measured 80.19 ppm and 75% at 224.1 ppm, highlighting the sites 12 and 17 as the highest
concentration of the element and leaf tissue P value 0.0014 fails the test of normal distribution (alpha = 0.05),
so here are significant differences between the values obtained at the respective sites and described above,
similarly to the case Arsenic (as) with P<= 0.0001, where the site 1 and 12 have the greatest concentrations,
as for chlorides (Cl ) with P=0.0207, with sites 5, 6, 14 and 15 in high concentrations vegetable plants,
Sodium (Na), with P=0.0230 without normal distribution with equal values at the sites 6, 10 and 11 and the
maximum element in the vegetation growing at the site 20.
Other heavy metal in leaf tissue analyzed was the arsenic (As), whose uniform minimum concentration
for the 22 sites was 0.004 ppm.
3.1.2 Association Monterey pine aphid and boron on the needle tissue
The Monterey Pine Aphid is a native of North America, its distribution ranges from southern British Columbia
in the north to southern Mexico, it eastern range extends to Nebraska, it is also found as far south as Florida in
the southeast (Palmer, 1952; Elmsavers A Division of Environmental Tree Technologies P/L, 2010) .In our

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study area, Pinus teocote (Schiede ex Schltdl) and P. montezumae (Lamb) on that order were the main hosts.
It is a recent introduction to Europe and has been identified in both France and Spain; it has also been
identified in New Zealand and Southern Brazil. The Monterey pine aphid was first recorded in Australia in
March 1998 on Pinus Radiata near Canberra; it is now present in all areas across Australia were pine trees are
grown (Flynn et al., 2003).
In the geothermal field “Los humeros”, Puebla, Mexico, colonies of Essigella californica (Essig)
were collected for proper identification (Blackman and Eastop, 1994) and in the forest were observed both as
apterous and winged individuals andin groups of 6-8 feeding on second year needles second year of growth
(Fig. 9).

Fig. 9 Essigella californica (Essig), winged adult and wingless specimens on pine needles.

As can be seen in Fig. 4, the presence of the pine aphid generally agrees on sites which detected the
highest amounts of Boron in the leaf tissue except Site 17(<2% incidence of pine aphid) with the
biggest concentrations of this element (Fig. 6), spite of where the forest was represented by 100% by
regeneration composed of natural pine seedlings less than 15 cm diameter.
At all sites where the incidence of pine aphid per tree was registered, this more is highest on the
site 12(26.5%), following the sites 11(10%), 17(2%) and site 2(1.75%) and other ones with minimal
occurrence (site14), besides Monterey pine aphid has high incidence in the natural regeneration of Pinus
teocote and P. montezumae (Fig. 5b), although the presence of this insect is distributed only on trees of vigor
category number 1 (Fig. 5c) .
Table 2 shows the concentrations obtained from the leaf tissue of sulphur (S), boron (B) and arsenic (As)
in ppm and the presence of Monterey pine aphid in the 20 stands evaluated.
The model is broken according to general equation, R squared and P value, as indicated in Table 3.

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Table 2 Relation of stands monitored and concentrations of 3 substances in leaf tissue with the presence of Monterey pine aphid.

Table 3 Regression multifactorial test showing the relationship between the presence of Monterey pine aphid with concentration
of 3 substances on needles tissue in the geothermal area: “Los Humeros”, Puebla; Mexico.

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As is possible appreciate above, the variable B (boron) is directly significant respect to the dependent
variable (y) named as Monterey pine aphid, which let us conclude preliminary about it and these results
suggest the use of Monterey Pine aphid Essigella californica (Essig) as bioindicator of polluted sites ,
however it is necessary to continue the observations in the study area organizing forest healthy monitoring for
long time and the changes hope on the cumulate pollution and its effects on forest vigor condition and stress
and the incidence of pests in stands surrounding the geothermal area “Los Humeros”, Puebla, México.

Acknowledgments
The author gives thanks to Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) in Mexico for all supports received for the
realization of this study as a part of project DPIA-00X-10 (2010) titled: “Diagnóstico de suelos y vegetación
en el campo geotérmico Los humeros, Puebla, México”. To Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Estado de
Michoacán (CIDEM), Mexico and the participation of all the technical staff who participated in the capture of
field data is appreciated and very specially to M.C. Jose Francisco Sanchez Espinoza, soil scientist.

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Arthropods, 2014, 3(2): 111-119

Article

Butterfly diversity of Gorewada International Bio-Park, Nagpur,

Central India

Kishor G. Patil1, Virendra A. Shende2

1
Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, R. T. Marg, Nagpur (M.S.), India
2
K. Z. S. Science College, Bramhani-Kalmeshwar, Dist- Nagpur (M.S.), India
E-mail: virushende@gmail.com

Received 11 February 2014; Accepted 15 March 2014; Published online 1 June 2014

Abstract
Gorewada international bio-park is a good habitat for biodiversity of butterflies. Its geographical location is
21011’N 7902’E. Butterfly watching and recording was done in such a way that there should be least one visit
in each line transect during a week with the aid of binocular and digital cameras. Total 92 species of butterflies
were recorded belonging to 59 genera and 5 families. Out of total 92 butterfly species 48.92%, 38.04% and
13.04% are common, occasional and rare species respectively. Nymphalidae family is consisting of maximum
number of genera and species. Maximum species richness reported from July to January and its number
decline from late March to last week of June. The present study will encourage the conservation of a wide
range of indigenous butterfly species in an area.

Keywords butterfly; Lepidoptera; biodiversity; Gorewada.

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1 Introduction
The flora and fauna that form today’s biodiversity are a snapshot of the earth’s 3.8 billion year history of life,
representing just 0.1% of all the species that have lived on earth. Thus 99.9% or virtually all of life that has
existed on earth has gone extinct (Raup, 1991). Thomas et al. (2004) compared species losses of British
butterflies, birds, and plants and found that loss of butterfly species has been greater than that of birds and
plants; current rates of species disappearance represent the sixth major extinction event through time.
Butterflies are providing the best rapid indicators of habit quality and they are the sensitive indicators of
climatic change (VenkataRamana, 2010). In the world, about 19,238 species were documented by Heppner
(1998). There were about 1,504 species of butterflies in Indian subcontinent (Gaonkar, 1996; Smetacek, 1992).
In central India, about 177 species of butterflies were reported in the Central Provinces (Vidarbha, Madhya
Pradesh and Chattisgarh) by D’Abreau (1931). In Vidarbha region, Tiple (2011) was compiled and records of
167 species of butterflies belonging to 90 genera representing 5 families.

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Gorewada is a developing international bio-park situated in Nagpur. It is a good habitat for biodiversity of
butterflies. It is situated at North-West of Nagpur city and its geographical location is 21°11′N 79°2′E. It is
basically divided into African Safari, Biopark, Energy Plaza, Trails, Indian Safari, Height Safari, Rescue Safari
and Gorewada Reservoir. Reservoirs catchment area is approx. 11 sq. mile (17,702.74 sqm.). Biodiversity of
odonates of this park have been recently reported (Shende and Patil, 2013; Patil et al., 2014). In spite of its
global significance, studies of butterfly diversity of Gorewada International Park have not been recently
undertaken.
Since, the main objective of this study has been conduct preliminary observation of butterflies and carried
out the checklist, occurrence and richness inhibiting the Gorewada International Park.

2 Material and Methods

The present study has been carried out for a period of two year from March 2011 to February 2013. Butterfly
watching and recording has been done during Sunday and holidays in such a way that there should be least one
visit in each line transect during a week. The observations were made with the aid of binocular and digital
cameras.
Observations were made through walking transects (Pollard, 1993; Caldas and Robbins, 2003) of 0.5 km
to 0.7 km length with 2 m to 5 m on either side. The present study is based on 4 line transects to study the
butterfly population. The sites were visited in morning and evening hours to note maximum possible species of
butterflies and record its activities. The recorded species are identified with the help of photographs by using
reference books and publications.

3 Results
A checklist of butterflies of Gorewada International Park has been prepared based on the present study (Table
1-3; Fig. 1-4). Total 92 species of butterflies were recorded belonging to 59 genera and 5 families. The family
Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae were consisted of 3 genera and 7 species; 8
genera and 14 species; 22 genera and 35 species; 18 genera and 26 species and 8 genera and 10 species
respectively (Fig. 1 and 2). A maximum number of species were belong to family- Nymphalidae (35) followed
by Lycaenidae (26), Pieridae (14), Hesperiidae (10) and minimum number of species were noted in family-
Papilionidae (7). These 5 families were contributed 59 genera. The largest number of genera were reported in
family- Nymphalidae (22) followed by Lycaenidae (18), Hesperiidae and Pieridae (8), and minimum number
of genera (3) were reported in family- Papilionidae (Tables 1 and 3).
In the present study out of total 92 butterfly species, 45 (48.92%) were common, 35 (38.04%) were
occasional and 12 (13.04%) were rare species (Table 2 and Fig. 1). Species richness is reported from July to
January and its number start decline from late March to last week of June.

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Table 1 Butterflies of Gorewada International Bio-Park.

S. N. Family Generic Name Common Name Status

1. Papilionidae Graphium Agamemnon (Linnaeus) Tailed jay C
(03 genera; Graphium doson (Felder) Common jay C
07 species) Pachliopta aristolochiae (Fabricius) Coomon rose C
Pachliopta hector (Linnaeus) Crimson rose O
Papilio demoleus (Linnaeus) Lime butterfly C
Papilio polymnestor (Cramer) Blue mormon O
Papilio polytes (Linnaeus) Common mormon O
2. Pieridae Anaphaeis aurota (Fabricius) Pioneer C
(08 genera; Appias albino (Boisduval) Common albatross O
14 species) Appias libythea (Fabricius) Eastern stripped albatross O
Catopsilia Pomona (Fabricius) Common emigrant C
Catopsilia pyranthe (Linnaeus) Mottled emigrant C
Cepora nerissa (Fabricius) Common gull C
Delias eucharis (Linnaeus) Common jazebel R
Eurema andersonii (Moore) One spot grass yellow C
Eurema blanda (Boisduval) Three spot grass yellow O
Eurema brigitta (Cramer) Small grass yellow C
Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus) Common grass yellow C
Eurema laeta (Boisduval) Spotless grass yellow R
Gandaca harina (Moore) Tree yellow O
Pareronia valeria (Cramer) Common wanderer C
3. Nymphalidae Acraea violae (Fabricius) Tawny coster C
(22 genera; Ariadne ariadne (Linnaeus) Angled castor C
35 species) Ariadne merione (Cramer) Common castor C
Athyma perius (Linnaeus) Common sergeant O
Byblia ilithyia (Drury) Joker R
Danaus chrysippus (Linnaeus) Plain tiger C
Danaus genutia (Cramer) Striped tiger C
Euploea core (Cramer) Common Indian crow C
Euripus nyctelius (Doubleday) Courtesam R
Euthalia aconthea (Cramer) Common baron O
Hypolimnas bolina (Linnaeus) Great eggfly C
Hypolimnas misippus (Linnaeus) Danaid eggfly O
Junonia almana (Linnaeus) Peacock pansy C
Junonia atlites (Linnaeus) Grey pansy C
Junonia iphita (Cramer) Chocolate pansy C
Junonia lemonias (Linnaeus) Lemon pansy C
Junonia orithya (Linnaeus) Blue pansy C
Lethe europa (Fabricius) Bamboo tree brown R
Melanitis leda (Linnaeus) Common Evening brown C
Melanitis phedima (Cramer) Dark Evening brown O
Melanitis zitenius (Herbst) Great Evening brown O
Moduza procris (Cramer) Commander C
Mycalesis mineus (Linnaeus) Dark branded bushbrown O
Mycalesis perseus (Fabricius) Common bushbrown C
Mycalesis visala (Moore) Longbrand bushbrown O
Neptis hylas (Linnaeus) Common sailer C
Parantica aglea (Stoll) Glassy tiger O
Phalanta phalantha (Drury) Common leopard R
Symphaedra nais (Forster) Baronet C
Tirumala limniace (Cramer) Blue tiger C
Tirumala septentrionis (Butler) Dark blue tiger O

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Ypthima asterope (Klug) Common three ring R

Ypthima baldus (Fabricius) Common five ring R
Ypthima heubneri (Kirby) Common four ring R
Ypthima inica (Hewitson) Lesser three ring O
4. Lycaenidae Acytolepis puspa (Horsfield) Common hedge blue C
(18 genera; Azanus jesous (Guérin–Menéville) African babul blue O
26 species) Azanus ubaldus (Stoll) Velvet-spotted Blue O
Castalius rosimon (Fabricius) Common pierrot C
Celastrina lavendularis (Moore) Plain hedge blue C
Chilades laius (Stoll) Lime blue O
Chilades pandava (Horsfield) Plains cupid C
Chilades parrhasius (Fabricius) Small cupid O
Chilades trochylus (Freyer) Grass jewel C
Catochrysops panormus (Distant) Silver Forget-me-not O
Catochrysops strabo (Fabricius) Forget-me-not C
Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius) Gram blue O
Freyeria putli (Kollar) Oriental grass jewel O
Jamides bochus (Stoll) Dark cerulean R
Jamides celeno (Cramer) Common cerulean C
Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus) Pea blue O
Leptotes plinius (Fabricius) Zebra blue C
Prosotas nora (Felder) Common line blue C
Pseudozizeeria maha (Kollar) Pale grass blue R
Surendra vivarna (Hewitson) Common acacia blue O
Tarucus nara (Kollar) Rounded pierrot C
Tarucus venosus (Moore) Vained pierrot O
Virachola Isocrates (Fabricius) Common guava blue R
Zizeeria karsandra (Moore) Dark grass blue C
Zizina otis (Fabricius) Lesser grass blue C
Zizula hylax (Fabricius) Tiny grass blue C
5. Hesperiidae Baoris farri (Moore) Paint brush swift O
(08 genera; Barbo cinnara (Wallace) Rice swift C
10 species) Matapa aria (Moore) Common red eye O
Oriens goloides (Moore) Common dartlet O
Pelopidas mathias (Fabricius) Small Branded swift O
Pelopidas subochracea (Moore) Large Branded swift O
Saustus gremius (Fabricius) Indian palm bob O
Telicota ancilla (Herrich-Schäffer) Dark palm dart C
Telicota colon (Fabricius) Pale palm dart O
Udaspes folus (Cramer) Grass demon O
Families- 05 No of Genera-59 No of species-92
Abbreviations- C- Common; O- Occasional; R- Rare

Table 2 Status of Butterflies of Gorewada International Bio-Park.

S.N. Status No. of species % of species
1. Common 45 48.91
2. Occasional 35 35.72
3. Rare 12 11.90
92 100.00

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Table 3 Distribution of genera and species of Butterflies in respective families.

No. of No. of
S.N. Family
Genera Species
1. Papilionidae 03 07
2. Pieridae 08 14
3. Nymphalidae 22 35
4. Lycaenidae 18 26
5. Hesperiidae 08 10
05 59 92

Fig. 1 Status of butterflies.

Fig. 2 Distribution of genera and species of butterflies in respective families.

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116 Arthropods, 2014, 3(2): 111-119

Fig. 3 Diversity of butterflies (A)- 1. Graphium doson (Common Jay); 2. Pachliopta hector (crimson rose); 3. Papilio demoleus
(Lime Butterfly); 4. Papilio polytes (Common Mormon); 5. Catopsilia Pomona (Common Emigrant); 6. Catopsilia pyranthe
(Mottled emigrant); 7. Delias eucharis (Common Jezebel); 8. Eurema hecabe (Common grass yellow); 9. Acraea violae (Tawny
Coster); 10. Ariadne ariadne (Angled Castor); 11. Ariadne merione (Common Castor); 12. Byblia ilithyia (Joker); 13. Danaus
chrysippus (Plain Tiger); 14. Danaus genutia (Striped Tiger); 15. Euploea core (Common Indian Crow) and 16. Euthalia
aconthea (Common Baron).

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Fig. 4 Diversity of butterflies (B)- 17. Hypolimnas bolina (Great Eggfly); 18. Hypolimnas misippus (Danaid Eggfly); 19. Junonia
almana (Peacock Pansy); 20. Junonia atlites (Grey Pansy); 21. Junonia lemonias (Lemon pansy); 22. Junonia orithya (Blue
Pansy); 23. Melanitis leda (Common evening brown); 24. Melanitis phedima (Dark Evening Brown); 25. Parantica aglea
(Glassy Tiger); 26. Phalanta phalantha (Common leopard); 27. Tirumala limniace (Blue Tiger); 28. Azanus ubaldus (Velvet-
spotted Blue); 29. Catochrysops strabo (Forget-me-not); 30. Jamides celeno (Common Cerulean); 31. Pelopidas mathias (Small
Branded swift) and 32. Pelopidas subochracea (Large branded Swift).

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4 Discussion
In the present study, total 92 species of butterflies were recorded belonging to 59 genera and 5 families.
Family- Nymphalidae was the largest family comprised of maximum number of genera (22) and species (35).
Earlier D’Abreeu (1931) was documented 91 butterfly species in Nagpur city; Later on Pandharipande (1990)
recorded 61 species of butterflies at Nagpur city (Seminary Hills, Telangkhedi Lake and Garden, University
Campus, Maharajbagh, Gandhibag Garden, Shukrawari Lake, Dhantoli Garden, Ambazari Lake Garden and
Airport) including Gorewada Lake and Garden. He agreed with the present observations regarding occurrence
of maximum species in a family and reporting season of butterflies.
Tiple and Khurad (2009) were recorded total 145 species of butterflies in and around Nagpur City at the
eight study sites (Seminary Hills, Satpuda Botanical Garden, Agricultural Land and Bull Rearing Center,
R.T.M. Nagpur University and L.I.T. Campus, Ambazari Garden and Bare Land at Lake Side, Sides of
National Highway, Maharaj Bag and Futala Farm Area). The highest number of butterflies was recorded
belonging to the Nymphalidae (51 species) followed by Lycaenidae (46 species), Hesperiidae (22 species),
Pieridae (17 species) and Papilionidae (9 species). The study revealed that Nymphalidae was most dominating
family with a highest number of species and most butterfly species were observed from the monsoon to early
winter but thereafter declined in early summer (Kunte, 1997).
Guptha et al. 2012 recorded a total of 50 species of butterflies belonging to 5 families in Seshachalam
Biosphere Reserve, Eastern Ghats Andhra Pradesh, India. The family Nymphalidae (20 species) was found
dominant followed by Lycaenidae (12 species), Pieridae (11 species), Papilionidae (5 species) and Hesperiidae
(2 species).
In eastern part of Western Ghats, Murugesan and Muthusamy (2013) surveyed 103 individual butterfly
species belonging to 5 families namely Nymphalidae (32), Pieridae (23), Lycaenidae (19), Hesperiidae (15)
and Papilionidae (14), which revealed that Nymphalidae and Pieridae were the rich dominant families, while
Hesperiidae and Papilionidae were less dominant; similar to the present observations. High incidences of
butterfly population with wide distribution were observed during the months of March-April and the monsoon
seasons (September - November) which diminish during December-January. All the observations are similar
with the present observations, except species richness season in eastern part of Western Ghats, may be due to
geographic and climatic variations.

5 Conclusion
The present research have concludes by systematically studied butterfly biodiversity and prepared a checklists
and catalogs in the study area. Family-Nymphalidae carries the maximum number of species than other
families. Species richness season of butterflies in Central part of India is different than that of eastern part of
Western Ghats. This study would be useful to conserve wide range of indigenous butterfly species in an area.

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Tiple AD, Khurad AM. 2009. Butterfly Species Diversity, Habitats and Seasonal Distribution in and Around
Nagpur City, Central India, World Journal of Zoology, 4(3): 153-162
VenkataRamana SP. 2010. Biodiversity and Conservation of Butterflies in the Eastern Ghats. The Ecoscan,
4(1): 59-67

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Arthropods, 2014, 3(2): 120-126

Article

Check list of first recorded dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera) fauna of

District Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Farzana Perveen1, Anzela Khan2, Sayed Abdul Rauf3

1
Departments of Zoology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Main Campus, Sheringal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
2
Beaconhouse School System, Margalla Campus (BMI-G), H-8, Islamabad, Pakistan
3
Departments of Zoology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Main Campus, Sheringal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
E-mail: farzana_san@hotmail.com

Received 5 March 2014; Accepted 10 April 2014; Published online 1 June 2014

Abstract
The dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) are large, intermediate to small size, having different colours and
variable morphological characters. They also carry ornamental and environmental indicator values. The first
recorded, the collection of 318 dragonflies was made during May-July 2011 from district Lower Dir, Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Among them 11 species of dragonflies were identified belonging to 3 families. The
golden-ringed, Cordulegaster brevistigma brevistigma Selys is belonging to family Cordulegasteridae and
Clubtails, Onychogomphus bistrigatus Selys is belonging to family Gomophidaed. The spine-legged redbolt,
Rhodothemis rufa (Rambur); black-tailed skimmer, Orthetrum cancellatum Linnaeus; blue or black-percher,
Diplacodes lefebvrei (Ramber); ground-skimmer, Diplacodes trivialis Rambur; common red-skimmer,
Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum (Rambur); triangle-skimmer, Orthetrum triangulare triangulare (Selys);
common-skimmer, Sympetrum decoloratum Selys; slender-skimmer, Orthetrum Sabina (Drury) and
wandering-glider or global-skimmer, Pantala flavescens (Fabricius) are belonging to family Libellulidae. It is
concluded that there is a diversity to explain dragonfly fauna from district Lower Dir.

Keywords Cordulegasteridae; dragonflies; Gomophidae; Libellulidae; Lower Dir.

Arthropods   
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1 Introduction
Dragonflies are popular bio-control agents belonging to order Odonata found in running and standing
freshwater bodies. They possess long and slender abdomen, large eyes, short antennae and long wings. Some
species of dragonfly are tolerant of brackish and salty waters. Many species have small ranges and are specific
to certain habitats such as alpine mountain bogs or desert wadi (Dijkstra and Lewington, 2006). They are
frequently used as indicators of environmental health in the temperate regions of the world. Their sensitivity to
habitat quality makes them well-suited agents for monitoring environment (Dijkstra and Lewington, 2006).

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 Arthropods, 2014, 3(2): 120-126 121

Dragonflies also possess medicinal properties and are used in medicine preparation in some countries (Asahina,
1974). They are also fried in coconut oil and served with vegetables as delicious cuisines (Hardwicke, 1990).
Odonates are important predators in both adult and nymphal stages. Larvae of dragonfly prey on amphibian
larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, flatworms and leeches. During outbreaks of cracker worms, dragonflies feed on
caterpillars suspended on their silken threads (Ahmad, 1994).
Thompson and Watts (2006) have used the dragonflies in genetic studies. A single adult of dragonfly may
eat 300-400 gnats each day. Nymphs feed on mosquito larvae and other aquatic fauna (Corbet, 2004). Some
species of dragonflies are getting extinct at a rapid rate. They should be conserved, as they are part of the
world's biodiversity. Their characteristics make them suitable subjects for biological research, especially for
studies on behavior and ecology. They vary in their sensitivity to different sorts of pollution and are thus used
as indicator of water pollution. Dragonfly can be used to control the insect vectors of dengue fever, which
breed in water containers and help to control malaria and filarial diseases etc (Mitra, 2002).

a b c
Fig. 1 Map of district Lower Dir, Pakistan, the survey area where from dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) were collecting: a) map
of Pakistan showing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Perveen et al., 2012; Perveen et al., 2014); b) map of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa showing
Lower Dir (Perveen and Ahmad, 2012 a and b); c) map of Lower Dir (Online, 2014).

Dragonfly fauna of district Lower Dir is not explored in the past. Lower Dir is one of the 24 districts of
Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) Province, Pakistan. Almost all of it lies in the valley of the Panjkora, which raises
high in the Hindu Kush at lat. 35.45 and joins the Swat river near Chakdara, where the district is usually
entered at lat. 34.40. Apart from the tehsils of Adenzai round Chakdara and Munda in the south-west, Lower
Dir is rugged and mountainous (Fig. 1). Summer is the pleasant weather for tourists (Anonymous, 1998). In
2005, the population of Lower Dir of 37 Union Councils is 1,037,091 in 2005 with 514,072 males and 523,020
females. The literacy ratio of the district is among the population aged 10 years and above is 29.90%. The male
literacy ratio is higher, 48.76% compared to 12.25% for female. Dir is considered one of the most sensitive
areas in Pakistan in term of religious extremism. Religio-political parties that have taken root in Dir. It was
ruled by a princely dynasty until 1969. There were limited facilities for education, health, road, transportation
and communication for the inhabitants (Online, 2014). In view of the great importance of dragonflies, it

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122 Arthropods, 2014, 3(2): 120-126

becomes imperative to study their taxonomy and distribution in this area; therefore, they can be aptly identified
and utilized in various ways for the benefits of human. The objective of the present study is to explore
dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera) fauna for the first time in district Lower Dir for awareness and education.

2 Materials and Methods

The study was conducted during May-July 2011 in district Lower Dir, KP, Pakistan. The district is bounded by
Swat district to the east, Bajour Agency to the west, Upper Dir to the north and Malakand district to the south.
Timergara, the district headquarters, lies at only 2,700 ft (820 m). The climate of Dir is cold and damp with
mountains usually covered with white snow that receives snowfall during December-February. The average
rain is 700 mm and the temperature varies from –6-38 oC (Fig. 1) (Anonymous, 1998).
2.1 Collection and preservation
Dragonflies were collected by random sampling from different area of district Lower Dir by using aerial nets,
collected specimens were placed them in triangular envelope after killing them in cyanide bottle, they were
pinned and their body parts were set on appropriate setting boards in laboratory. On drying these were properly
labeled and mounted in the collection boxes. Naphthalene balls were placed in the boxes to keep them safe
from the pests.
2.2 Identification and description
For identification, the specimens were examined under stereoscope. Identification was done up to the specific
level by running them through Fraser (1933-1934) and Chauhdry (2010). Help was also taken by already
identified specimens placed in National Insect Museum (NIM), National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC),
Islamabad, Pakistan. Valid names along with synonyms habitat were given for the species already recorded
from Pakistan. All the identified specimens were deposited in the Zoological Museum, Department of Zoology,
Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan (Perveen, 2012).
2.3 Morphometric
Identified specimens were subjected for measurement of their head, thorax, abdomen, wings and legs with a
finely pointed divider and a common scale ruler. Ten specimens of each identified species were measured and
data were analyzed (Perveen and Hussain, 2012).

3 Results
The total 318 individuals of dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) were collected by random sampling belonging
to 11 species of 3 families including Corduligestridae, Gomophidae and Libellulidae. First recorded checklist
of the dragonfly species is presented below:
Superkingdom : Eukaryota
Kingdom : Animalia
Subkingdom : Eumetazoa
Superphylum : Ecdysozoa
Phylum : Arthropoda
Subphylum : Hexapoda
Class : Insecta
Subclass : Pterygota
Division : Palaeoptera
Order : Odonata
Suborder : Anisoptera
Superfamily : Cordulegasteridoidea

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 Arthropods, 2014, 3(2): 120-126 123

Family : Cordulegasteridae
Subfamily : Cordulegasteridinae
Reported species 1 : Golden-ringed dragonfly, Cordulegaster brevistigma brevistigma
Superfamily : Gomophidoidea
Family : Gomophidae
Subfamily : Gomophidinae
Reported species 2 : Clubtails dragonfly, Onychogomphus bistrigatus
Superfamily : Libelluloidea
Family : Libellulidae
Subfamily : Libellulinae
Reported species 3 : Blue or Black percher dragonfly, Diplacodes lefebvrei
Reported species 4 : Ground skimmers dragonfly, Diplacodes trivialis
Reported species 5 : Black tailed skimmer, Orthetrum cancellatum
Reported species 6 : Common red skimmer dragonfly, Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum
Reported species 7 : Slender skimmer dragonfly, Orthetrum sabina
Reported species 8 : Triangle Skimmer dragonfly, Orthetrum triangulare triangulare
Reported species 9 : Wandering glider or global skimmer dragonfly, Pantala flavescens
Reported species 10 : Spine-legged Redbolt dragonfly, Rhodothemis rufa
Reported species 11 : Common skimmer dragonfly, Sympetrum decoloratum

Table 1 The dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera) Fauna were collected from the survey area, District Lower Dir, Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan during May-July 2011.
Family Subfamily SNo Common names Genus and species Authority Year

Cordulegasteridae Cordulegasteridinae 1 Golden-ringed Cordulegaster Selys 1854

brevistigma
brevistigma
Gomophidae Gomophidinae 2 Clubtails Onychogomphus Selys 1854
bistrigatus
Libellulidae Libellulinae 3 Spine-legged Rhodothemis rufa (Rambur) 1842
Redbolt
4 Black tailed Orthetrum (Linnaeus) 1758
skimmer cancellatum
5 Blue or Black Diplacodes (Ramber) 1842
percher lefebvrei
6 Ground skimmers Diplacodes trivialis Rambur 1842

7 Common red Orthetrum (Rambur) 1909

skimmer pruinosum
neglectum
8 Triangle Orthetrum (Selys) 1878
Skimmer triangulare
triangulare
9 Common Sympetrum Selys 1884
skimmer decoloratum
10 Slender skimmer Orthetrum sabina (Drury) 1773

11 Wandering glider Pantala flavescens (Fabricius) 1798

or global
skimmer

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124 Arthropods, 2014, 3(2): 120-126

4 Discussion
During the present research, 318 individuals of dragonflies were collected from different areas of district
Lower Dir during May-July 2011. The 2 species, i.e., O. bistrigatus and C. brevistagma brevistagma are
belonging to families Gomophidae and Cordulegasteridae, respectively. The 9 species, i.e., R. rufa, O.
cancellatum, D. lefebvrei, D. trivialis, O. pruinosum neglectum, O. triangulare, S. decoloratum, O. sabina and
P. flavescens are belonging to family Libellulidae. Yousaf (1972) collected and identified 64 species and
subspecies belonging to 24 genera of 6 subfamilies of dragonflies form various localities of West Pakistan.
Kumar and Prasad (1981) reported 162 odonate species from western Himalaya. Kanth (1985) describe 39
species of dragonflies belonging to 22 genera from Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Both researches showed
similarities because they have same geographical area and climate. However, in an extensive survey, Chhodary
(2010) explored dragonflies fauna of Pakistan was carriedout during 2005-2009 in the 10 agro-ecological
regions of Pakistan. A total of 1349 specimens belonging to 5 families, 39 genera and 68 species were
collected and identified. The area of Pakistan occupied by different dragonfly families, which indicate that the
specimens of the families Aeshnidae and Labellulidae are distributed throughout the country, Corduliidae
dragonflies are restricted in mountainous and sub mountainous areas, whereas Cordulagesteridae species are
found in only mountainous areas. The specimens of Gomphidae family are scattered in all parts of Pakistan.
Therefore, the present survey was conducted in short period but identified some species were the same as by
Chhodary (2010).
From the results of morphometric data the minimum head length (3 mm) was recorded in R. rufa, D.
lefebvrei, O. sabina, P. flavescens, O. bistrigatus, C. brevistigma brevistigma and maximum length (9 mm)
was recorded in S. decoloratum. Similarly minimum thorax length (5 mm) was noticed in D. trivialis and
maximum thorax length (14 mm) was noticed in C. brevistigma brevistigma. The minimum abdomen length
(11 mm) was found in P. flavescens and maximum abdomen length (41 mm) was found in C. brevistigma
brevistigma. Similarly, from the result of morphometric data, the minimum (21 mm) forewing length was
recorded in O. bistrigatus and maximum (50 mm) forewing length was recorded in C. brevistigma brevistigma.
The minimum (21 mm) hindwing length was recorded in D. trivialis and maximum (49 mm) hindwing length
was recorded in C. brevistigma brevistigma. Similarly, minimum (6 mm) forewing width was noticed in R.
rufa, O. cancellatum, D. lefebvrei, D. trivialis, S. decoloratum, P. flavescens, O. bistrigatus and maximum (13
mm) forewing width was noticed in C. brevistigma brevistigma. Similarly, minimum (7 mm) hindwing width
was noticed in O. bistrigatus and maximum (17 mm) hindwing width was recorded in C. brevistigma
brevistigma. From the results of morphometric data the minimum foreleg length (5 mm) and maximum foreleg
length (15 mm) was recorded in O. bistrigatus and C. brevistigma brevistigma. Similarly, minimum (6 mm)
mesoleg length and maximum (17 mm) mesoleg length was found in O. bistrigatus and C. brevistigma
brevistigma. The minimum (10 mm) hindleg length and maximum (22 mm) hindleg length was recorded in O.
bistrigatus and C. brevistigma brevistigma.
Khaliq et al. (1990) identified 19 Odonata species from Poonch district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir,
Pakistan. Khaliq et al. (1992) recorded 6 anisopterous species from district Mansehra (KP). Khaliq et al. (1993)
identified 22 dragonfly species from Murree hills. Ahmad and Yousuf (1994) added 3 new genera and 4
species to the anisopterous fauna of KP. Ahmad (1994) identified 21 dragonfly species belonging to 14 genera
and 4 families from KP. Arshad (1994) recorded 14 dragonfly species belonging to 9 genera from Balochistan.
Khaliq et al. (1994) recorded 13 dragonfly species from Gilgit, Baltistan and Kashmir. Rehman (1994)
described 35 species of dragonflies belonging to 22 genera of 12 subfamilies in 3 families from Punjab. Ullah
(1994) recorded 12 dragonfly species belonging to 10 genera and 2 families from Sindh. However, at the
present, 318 individuals of dragonflies belonging to 11 species were collected and identified from different

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 Arthropods, 2014, 3(2): 120-126 125

areas of district Lower belonging to 3 families Cordulegasteridae, Gomophidae and Libellulidae. Therefore,
the dragonflies are an important topic for research and study as they have the great biodiversity all over the
world. Priorities for identifying species of dragonflies need to improve monitoring, surveys and studies in
some important areas of Pakistan.

5 Conclusion
Keeping in view, the results of current study, it is concluded that there is a lot of potential to explore Odonata
fauna of distict Lower Dir. The climate and topography of this area along with lot of natural pastures and
aquatic bodies support dragonflies’ life and biology. However, due to rapid increase in urbanization, suitable
habitats of Odonata are disappearing at an alarming rate. Further surveys and necessary conservation measures
are, therefore, suggested as need of the day to utilize it, in right direction after knowing its species complex.

6 Recommendation
Being an important predator of crop pests, dengue and malarial vector (mosquitoes) and other harmful insects,
awareness should be generated in local public through electronic and print media to save it from injudicious
use of pesticides in fields. Steps should be taken to minimize the chances of disturbances and loss of natural
habitats of Odonata, as it adversely affects species composition and its abundance.

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 Arthropods

Arthropods account for more than 65% of global species and 85% of animal species. On a temperate grassland,
arthropods hold a huge biomass (1,000kg/ha), seconded to plant (20,000kg/ha) and microorganisms (7,000kg/ha)
but much higher than mammals (1.2kg/ha), birds (0.3kg/ha), and nemantodes (120kg/ha). Arthropods play the
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enemies. Some arthropods are important health pests but many crustaceans are important food sources of
humankinds. Arthropods govern the structures and functions of natural ecosystems, but are always ignored by
researchers. On the global scale, the surveys of mammals, birds and vascular plants were relatively perfect
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ARTHROPODS (ISSN 2224-4255) is an international journal devoted to the publication of articles on various
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Arthropods
ISSN 2224-4255
Volume 3, Number 2, 1 June 2014

Articles

Health assessment of pine forest as affected by geothermal activities:

Presence of Monterey pine aphid, Essigella californica (Essig)
(Homoptera: Aphidae) associated with higher concentrations of boron
on pine needles
Adolfo A. Del Rio Mora 96-110

Butterfly diversity of Gorewada International Bio-Park, Nagpur, Central

India
Kishor G. Patil, Virendra A. Shende 111-119

Check list of first recorded dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera) fauna of

District Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Farzana Perveen, Anzela Khan, Sayed Abdul Rauf 120-126

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