Diversity, distribution, and habitat preference of dragonfly (Odonata) in District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Dragonflies are recognized as flagship species in freshwater conservation and act as a bio-control agent of important pests. To update existing information on the species composition, diversity and abundance in district Mardan, this study was carried out from March 2022 to October 2024. The total of 2240 collected specimens was identified into 23 species belonging to 14 genera and 4 families. Libullidae was the predominant family with 13 genera and 19 species; Orthetrum purinosum neglectum, Orthetrum coerulescens anceps, Orthetrum triangulare, Orthetrum cancellatum cancellatum, Orthetrum Chrysostigma luzonicum, Orthetrum chrysis, Orthetrum Sabina, Trithemis festiva, Trithmis aurora, Trithemis kirbyi, Neurothemis tulia tulia, Neurothemis fluctuans, Brachythemis contaminate, Pantala flavescens, Acisoma panorpoides, Crocothemis serivilia, Sympetrum hypomelas, Diplocodes lefebrvei and Palpopluera sexmaculata, followed by Gomphidae with two genera and two species: Onychogomphus bristigatus and Ictinogomphus angulosus. The rest of the two families, Aeshnidae and Cordulliidae, each comprised of a single species and a single genus: Anax immaculifrons and Macromia moorei. Orthetrum purinosum neglectum was reported as the most dominant (RA=25%) and constantly distributed species, whereas Sympetrum hypomelas was ranked satellite (RA=0.08%) and sporadically distributed species. Among the four tehsils, Rustam was found to be the most diverse in terms of the highest number of species (23), Simpson diversity index I-D (0.8818), Shannon diversity index H (2.51302), Evenness index E (0.801475), and Margelaf Richness index D (3.350969). Preferred habitats of various dragonfly species were also analyzed. Keeping in mind the declining diversity of dragonflies due to habitat destruction, an extensive study needs to be carried in the study area to focus on the habitat preferences and conservation of different dragonfly species.