Image: Protosticta sooryaprakashi, male. Credit: Authors: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5723.3.3
A new species of damselfly, sporting vibrant sky-blue markings, has been discovered in the biodiversity hotspots of India’s Western Ghats. Named the Kodagu Shadowdamsel (Protosticta sooryaprakashi), this shade-loving insect was identified by a collaborative team of researchers who combined traditional field observations with modern DNA analysis to distinguish it from its closest relatives. The discovery highlights the hidden diversity remaining in the tropical forests of Karnataka.
The new species was identified during surveys along the banks of the Sampaje River in the Kodagu District and in the high-altitude forests of Agumbe. Researchers from institutions including Government Brennen College, Kannur; the Society for Odonate Studies, Kottayam; the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru; and others initially noticed that these damselflies resembled a known species, Protosticta sanguinostigma. However, the team noticed that the new specimens were smaller, more delicate, and possessed distinct physical traits that did not match those in existing records. To confirm their suspicions, they utilised molecular analysis, sequencing the insects' DNA to prove that the Kodagu Shadowdamsel was indeed a separate evolutionary lineage.
What sets Protosticta sooryaprakashi apart from its cousins is specific, unique physical characteristics. The males are distinguished by a prominent sky-blue marking on the prothorax—the neck-like segment behind the head—and a dark brown to black body, which differs from the crimson-colored thorax of its close relative. Under microscopic examination, the researchers found a peculiar feature: the tips of the male’s reproductive organ (the genital ligula) are shaped distinctly like a duck’s head, a trait not seen in other species of this group. In the wild, these damselflies were observed perching on shaded plants near streams, exhibiting a weaker, more fluttering flight than other damselflies in the region.
The species has been named in honour of the late Dr Sooryaprakash Shenoy, a renowned botanist who served as Head Scientist of the Botany Division at the Dr Shivaram Karanth Nisargadhama (biological park) in Pilikula, Karnataka. He was a researcher who dedicated his life to biodiversity conservation in the Western Ghats.
The researchers noted that finding such a distinct species in a relatively accessible area suggests that the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, likely harbours many more cryptic or unknown species waiting to be discovered. They emphasised that protecting the shaded, riparian (river-based) habitats where the Kodagu Shadowdamsel thrives is essential for maintaining the ecological health of the region's freshwater systems.
This article was written with the help of generative AI and edited by an editor at Research Matters.
