New Damselfly — Lestes paloti

Discovery

A new damselfly species Lestes paloti was discovered in the Western Ghats of Kerala.

Taxonomy

• Family: Lestidae
• Order: Odonata

Distribution

Recorded in six Kerala districts:

• Kannur
• Kozhikode
• Wayanad
• Malappuram
• Palakkad
• Ernakulam

Unique Features

• Brown during dry season
• Bluish during monsoon
• Prefers scrub vegetation and laterite hillocks
• Often away from visible water bodies

Important Fact

It was the first new Lestes species discovered in the Western Ghats in 97 years.