OdoBD: An online database for the dragonflies and damselflies of Bangladesh

Abstract

Combining scientific data over a long-time period is necessary for generating large-scale datasets, which are an essential component of comparative analysis for understanding evolutionary processes. Furthermore, monitoring temporal and spatial distributions of animals at a global and regional scale is essential for studying climate change driven extinction risks. Regional and global datasets focusing on different animal groups are on the rise to meet such challenges. Although being one of the earliest and best-known insect groups, the data on Odonata remains rudimentary and dispersed, especially in the South Asian region. Bangladesh, being located within a biodiversity hotspot, possesses a large number of odonate species and many of them are endemic to the South Asian region. We have developed an online database for the Odonata of Bangladesh by compiling and digitizing data from our last four years of field studies, from previously published research articles and field guides, and also by collecting data from citizen scientists. The Odonata of Bangladesh database (accessible at http://www.odobd.org) contains phenotypic, genotypic, photographic, taxonomic, biogeographic and faunistic data of the Odonata of Bangladesh. The database will be a valuable resource for understanding diversity, distributions, extinction risks and conservation planning of the Odonata of Bangladesh. Finally, phenotypic, spatial and temporal data of Odonata of Bangladesh datasets can be integrated with other regional datasets for analyzing macroevolutionary trends and to monitor the effect of climate change on odonates.

Parasite‐mediated sexual selection in a damselfly

“…Agriocenemis pymaea is a small damselfly (total body length 18-22 mm) of the Coenagrionidae family, which is widely distributed in Australasia (Kalkman et al, 2020;Khan, 2020;Shah & Khan, 2020;Theischinger & Hawking, 2016). The males are distinguished from other sympatric species by the green ante-humeral stripes, orange abdominal tip and the relative size of the superior and inferior anal appendages (Figure 1a-b; Khan, 2020).…”

“…This colour change reduces pre-reproductive mating harassment in females (Khan, 2020). This species inhabits submerged grasslands, marshlands and paddy fields (Shah & Khan, 2020). The adults feed on small insects such as mosquitoes, flies and moths.…”

Sexual and developmental variations of ecto-parasitism in damselflies

“…Agriocnemis femina and Agriocnemis pygmaea are small damselflies (wing size 10.5-11.00 mm, and wing size 9.75-11.5 mm respectively) of the Coenagrionidae family [49,50;Fig 1A and 1B]. These species are widely distributed in South Asia, South East Asia, and Australia [50][51][52].…”

“…Agriocnemis femina and Agriocnemis pygmaea are small damselflies (wing size 10.5-11.00 mm, and wing size 9.75-11.5 mm respectively) of the Coenagrionidae family [49,50;Fig 1A and 1B]. These species are widely distributed in South Asia, South East Asia, and Australia [50][51][52]. They are commonly found in grasslands associated with ponds, lakes, marshes and in paddy fields, and cohabit with Ceriagrion coromandelianum, A. kalinga, A. lacteola, and Orhterum sabina [49].…”

“…Agriocnemis femina is a common damselfly in the northeastern region of Bangladesh [53,54], while A. pygmaea is commonly found in central and southwestern region of Bangladesh [49,55]. Agriocnemis femina is seen in flight throughout the year, although the number of individuals peaks between April to July [50]. The flight period of A. pygmaea is all year round, but the population level peaks between June to August [50].…”