From the Forest to the City: the Arrival of Dragonflies and Damselflies to the Urban Jungle

Abstract

Can we predict which taxonomic groups and morphological or behavioral traits are favoured during urbanization? Here we have revised those odonate (dragonflies and damselflies) species are present in urban areas around world, their body size, body colour, sexual dimorphism, flight mode, habitat preference and mate guarding strategy. We wanted to know which of these traits are apparently favoure/ non-favoured in urban odonates. We found 88 urbanization-tolerant (Aeshnidae, Libellulidae and Coenagrionidae) and 87 urbanization-sensitive (Lestidae, Calopterygidae, Gomphidae) species. A phylogenetic path analysis showed that smaller dragonflies and damselflies species seem better adapted to urban environments. For dragonflies, yellow- or red-colored species as well as less sexually dimorphic were more frequent in urban areas. For damselflies species, those associated to lentic waters and with lesser mate guarding were more likely to use urban areas. We discuss the underlying physiological mechanisms linked to such urban-surviving ability as well as how we can use such information for conservation purposes. Indeed, it seems that odonates are well adapted to urbanization.