THE ODONATE FAUNA OF RAJASTHAN By

The study of the Odonata of Rajasthan is in continuation of the studies on the fauna of Rajasthan being carried out during the last fe,v years by the Zoological Survey of India. The Odonates, or dragonflies and damselflies, are carnivorous insects inhabiting marshy areas. The males usually remain near ,vater ,vhereas the females come there to breed. The larvae are aquatic. We find that the collections from Rajasthan are from the ,vetter parts of the desert. The first record of these insects in Rajasthan is made by Adams (1899) under the general heading Neuroptera. He mentioned the family ljbellulidae, but no species by name. Fraser (1933-1936) mentioned some species from North-West India. The second record is by Agrawal (1957) where he mentioned the presence of 15 species in Pilani but it was not possible to obtain the names of those species. Th'e present study is based on 9 small collections made by as many parties of the Zoological Survey of India. In this study 13 species distributed over 2 suborders, 4 families and 12 genera have been recorded. Of these, 11 species are ne,v distributional records. Of the t,vo suborders, the suborder Anisoptera forms the greater part of the Odonate fau'na of tne state (8 spp.). In this suborder the family Libellulidae is dominant (5 spp.). Of the other families, Gomphidae comes next to Libellulidae in number (2 spp.), and Aeshnidae being least represented. Coenagrionidae (5 spp.) is the sole representative family of the suborder Zygoptera.


I. INTRODUCTION
The study of the Odonata of Rajasthan is in continuation of the studies on the fauna of Rajasthan being carried out during the last fe,v years by the Zoological Survey of India.
The Odonates, or dragonflies and damselflies, are carnivorous insects inhabiting marshy areas.The males usually remain near ,vater ,vhereas the females come there to breed.The larvae are aquatic.We find that the collections from Rajasthan are from the ,vetter parts of the desert.
The first record of these insects in Rajasthan is made by Adams (1899) under the general heading Neuroptera.He mentioned the family ljbellulidae, but no species by name . Fraser (1933. Fraser ( -1936) ) mentioned some species from North-West India.The second record is by Agrawal (1957) where he mentioned the presence of 15 species in Pilani but it was not possible to obtain the names of those species.
Th'e present study is based on 9 small collections made by as many parties of the Zoological Survey of India.In this study 13 species distributed over 2 suborders, 4 families and 12 genera have been recorded.Of these, 11 species are ne,v distributional records.
Of the t,vo suborders, the suborder Anisoptera forms the greater part of the Odonate fau'na of tne state (8 spp.).In this suborder the family Libellulidae is dominant (5 spp.).Of the other families, Gomphidae comes next to Libellulidae in number (2 spp.), and Aeshnidae being least represented. Coenagrionidae (5 spp.) is the sole representative family of the suborder Zygoptera.
-The specimen under study differs from the description of the species, given by Laidlaw (1919), as follo,vs : f 1) 6 postnodal nervures in the fore ,ving, and '5 in the hind 'ving (Versus: 8 postnodals in the fore\ving and 6 in the llind \ving).
This species is very widespread in its distribution throughout the tropical parts of Asia and Africa.Remarks.--Thespe~imens under study differ from the description of th1e species, as given in the Fauna of British India, as follo,vs : In the female the bluish red postocular spots are not connected by blue line (V el'SUS : Bluish green postocular spots are connected by a narro\v line of the same colour).Abdominal ~egent 10 completely black (Vel'sus: Blue at the apical border only).In tile male specimen the ventral side of the abdominal segments 3 to 7 bluish (Versus : Abdomen pale blue at the sides changing to creamy yellow beneath)

Enallagma malayanum Selys
This species is reported for the first time from Rajasthan.
5. Agriocnemis pygmaea (Rambur) Remarks.-Thespecimens differ fro'm the description of the species, as given in the Fauna of British India, as follows: (1) In the male nO' apple green colour in the prothorax (Versus: the anterior lobe, lo,ver parts _of sides and the extreme edge of the posterior lobe apple green) (2) In the male the abdominal segments 9 & 10 orange coloured (Versus: segments ts to 10 ,vith d01rsum clouded or not with black) (3) In the female, no green stripe on the occiput (Versus: Postocular blue spots connected by a narrow green stripe across the occiput) This very ,videly distributed species is recorded from Rajasthan for the first time.
This is a very widely distributed species throughout the Indian subcontinent.
This species is 'videly distributed over North ,vestern India... Remal'k.~.,-The specimen differs from the description of the species given by Fraser (1936) as follows: (1) No black marking on labium (Versus : middle lobe and sides of labium black).( 2) Labrum dark brown (Versus: Black along the border).(3) Thorax not pruinosed (Versus: pruiniscent).This is one of the most common species of Odonata seen throughourt India and in the islands of the Indian Ocean.10. Sympetrum decoloratum (Selys) 1884.Diplax vulgata race decolorata Selys, Ann.Soc. Ent. BeIg., 28: 35. 1936. Sympetrum decoloratum: Fraser, Fauna Brit. India, 3: 371, 380-381, fig.Remarks.-Thespecimens ( d\ &~) differ from the description of the species, as given by Fraser (1936), as follows :-(1) Reddish brown stripe on th!e abdomen of the male (V t;rsus: only tiny reddish dots on each side of the dorsal carina).( 2    Burma and extending east of China, Formosa and the Philippines and south,vards to Java and Sumatra. Remarks.I-The specimens uilder study differ from the description or the species as given by Fraser (1936) as follows : (i) In one male (Z..J Remarks.-The specimen differs from the species description as given by I~~raser (1936) as follo,vs : Venation of the dark basal area of the hindwing reddish yellow (Versus : Venation in the dark area bright yellow).This is the first record of this species from Rajasthan.
first record of its occurrence in the oriental region.