Species Complexity of Order Odonata in District Dir Upper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Species Complexity of Order Odonata in District Dir Upper, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Inayat ul Islam1, Rooh Ullah1, Ahmed Zia2, Abdul Rauf Bhatti2*, Maryum Ilyas2, Sohail Hayat1 and Khabab Hayat1
ABSTRACT
With an important palearctic biogeographical position, district Dir Upper is located at Latitude 35.3356°N, Longitude 72.0468°E and altitude of 1840.57m within the Himalayan foothills in the northwestern Pakistan. Present study brought forward first data for the Odonata fauna inhabiting Dir Upper since inception of Pakistan. The areas represent one of the many ecologies that remain ignored and neglected for insect faunal surveys due to multiple factors like lack of education, awareness, social barriers and uncertain ground conditions being representing Pak-Afghan border territories in many of its valleys and villages. Such areas have a strong potential to come-up with important scientific records. Current study revealed four families, eleven genera and seventeen species and added new geographic range to Odonata fauna of the country. Among recorded fauna, family Libellulidae appeared to be the dominant group, representing 14 species, followed by family Aeshnidae, Calopterygidae and Coenagrionidae representing single species each. Being a flying insect group, seasonal surveys and temporal data for Odonata in this ecologically rich and geopolitically important area are highly suggested that can surely bring forward important information for the migratory species between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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