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Chat on "Dragonflies and Damsel Flies" dated February 19, 2017 Nazneen: Hi Susan Sharma: Hi let us try once again. There seems to be a tech problem Nazneen: ok Susan Sharma: Start with a brief intro. Susan Sharma: Why are dragon flies important? Susan Sharma: write small sentences Nazneen: Dragonflies are very beautiful and colourful creature, it easly attracts our eye. Nazneen: they are carnivores and faster flyer Susan Sharma: Carnivores? What do they eat? Nazneen: they eat flies / insects and sometimes dragonflies too which may sound like surprise to us... Susan Sharma: How are damsel flies different? Nazneen: so dragonflies are important for ecosystem to control the count of insects/mosquitoes Nazneen: dragonflies and damselflies have two major differences Nazneen: 1. by their eyes (Dragonflies have envelop eyes ) Nazneen: damselflies have separate eyes. Nazneen: 2. is by their sitting position Nazneen: dragonflies always sits with open wings Nazneen: whereas damsel always keeps their wings closed while sitting.. Susan Sharma: Are damselflies carnivores too? Nazneen: yes both are carnivores Susan Sharma: What got you interested in this? Nazneen: these two are major differences among damsel and dragon Nazneen: i was doing bird photography since last 3& half year.. with my husband Nazneen: as my husband is a bird lover and photographer we use to go-together on weekends... Nazneen: one day i looked a couple dragonflie with wonderful behaviour and slowly got attracted to this... Susan Sharma: How many species are found in India? Nazneen: this happened in remote area of Rajasthan.. Susan Sharma: Ok, carry on Nazneen: approx 494 species are found in India.. Susan Sharma: These are dragon flies or damselflies? Susan Sharma: Is there any study on these creatures? Nazneen: Dragonflies and damselflies are know as Odonata (and the count is for combination of both) Nazneen: Exactly i was coming to this... there is no proper scientific research / studies done in our country as of now.. however some individuals are working on this kind of studies... soon you will see some good writeups and books Susan Sharma: Hi Alok Nazneen: Hey Alok.. Susan Sharma: There are studies abroad? Nazneen: Yes they do Nazneen: specially in London there is a society which does research on insects Alok Kaushik: Hi Susan Sharma: What about our own BNHS? No studies by them? Nazneen: no as of now they don't have any expert on Odonata Nazneen: Odonata are spotted only during summer sessions Susan Sharma: There are many experts on Entomolgy. They cover all insects, I think. Nazneen: True there are experts on Entomolgy but they are not specific to Odonata Susan Sharma: Does entomology cover these insects too? Nazneen: people do generic study or research on insects, specially on butterfly, moth but not on Odonata Susan Sharma: Who are studying Odonata in India? Susan Sharma: Which are the best locations to spot odonata? Nazneen: ZSI have some group of people who are studying on Odonata as of now Susan Sharma: That is the Zoo Authorities? Nazneen: Identification of Odonata is not easy as small / minor change may invent a new species Nazneen: ZSI is Zoological Survey of India Susan Sharma: Ok, thanks. Nazneen: Welcome Mam Susan Sharma: Where can we spot these insects? Nazneen: these can be spotted near to any wetland / water / fresh stream or lake / river etc... Susan Sharma: Do these also undergo metamorphosis like moths and butterflies? Nazneen: yes they do Susan Sharma: Photographing these for identification must be tough Susan Sharma: You need high power macro lenses? Nazneen: yes.. one need good Macro lens and photographing is not easy as they keep humming Susan Sharma: Tell us your experience in photographing them Nazneen: Identifications in itself is a tough call and it's not possible to identify by photographs.. one needs to collect and study in details about the specimens before coming to any conclusions.. Susan Sharma: is there proof that odonata can control mosquitoes? Nazneen: in early days clicking dragonfly was a little tough and challenging as the day starts after good sun light and goes till the sunset.. Nazneen: yes it is scientifically proofed Susan Sharma: Any publications that you know of? Nazneen: what kind of publications would you like to know.. Susan Sharma: Journals? Nazneen: are u refering to some books published on Odonata...? Susan Sharma: No, research articles Nazneen: I have not seen any research article on Odonata as of now... Nazneen: in India only ZSI & BNHS are the two major players in these areas... Susan Sharma: That is Ok. Nazneen thank you for a wonderful chat. Nazneen: ThankYou.. Susan Sharma: If Alok has no questions, shall we close the chat room? Susan Sharma: As soon as we close, the unedited transcript will appear on our website. Susan Sharma: Thank you and good night. Alok Kaushik: Thanks. Yes, we can go ahead.

Chat Archive Dragonflies and Damsel Flies - February, 2017 Online Courses on the study of birds - July, 2015 Rewilding degraded Land- practical experiences - June, 2015 Why are vultures important for Swachh Bharat? - May, 2015 Green Living - March, 2015 Restoring degraded lands for wildlife - January, 2015 Insect Tourism - November, 2014 Use of GIS and Remote Sensing for Biodiversity Conservation - October, 2014 Why celebrate wildlife week? - September, 2014 Wildlife Film making - July, 2014 Wildlife Film making - June, 2014 Sharing of Experiences by our wilderness volunteers - May, 2014 Online Environmental Courses - March, 2014 Decreasing tolerance of backyard wildife - February, 2014 Frogs of India - January, 2014 Sustainable Development: The Right Approach - December, 2013 Tiger Cyclowalk- an Interview with Sunil Joshi - December, 2013 Tiger Cyclowalk - Highlands to Ocean - November, 2013 Volunteering at Melghat Tiger Reserve - October, 2013 Role of Citizens in Scientific Research - September, 2013 Ranthambore Adventure - January, 2013 Bats-The Night Warriors - October, 2012 Man vs Tiger-Can Science help? - July, 2012 Human Elephant Conflict - June, 2012 Saving the one horned rhino - May, 2012 "Man-Leopard Conflict - how we can deal with it" - April, 2012 Environment and Wildlife Film making - March, 2012 "Rainforest Wildlife-Unique adaptations" - February, 2012 Conserving wildlife in fragmented landscapes - January, 2012 Urban Biodiversity - September, 2011 Green Hiking in the Himalayas - August, 2011 Role of Zoos in Conservation - July, 2011 Reduce, Recycle and Reuse - June, 2011 Black Necked Cranes - symbol of the rising Green Consciousness - May, 2011 Wildlife Issues in the North -East of India - April, 2011 Trekking in the Himalaya - March, 2011 Conservation of Marine Diversity in India - February, 2011 Plant native trees this monsoon - January, 2011 Human Elephant Conflict - December, 2010 Conservation and Development in Emerging India - November, 2010 "WILL ANIMALS ADAPT TO ANOTHER HABITAT........ - October, 2010 Responsible Tourism- Way forward to conservation? - September, 2010 Vulture Conservation in India - August, 2010 Plant a tree (trees) this monsoon - June, 2010 Role of Urban Birds - April, 2008 "Role of Urban Birds" - April, 2008 GM Foods and Bio-diversity - March, 2008 Taking Responsibility for One's Carbon Emissions - February, 2008 Ecological Security - January, 2008 The Himalayan Musk Deer - November, 2007 Urban Wildlife - October, 2007 Disappearing Tigers: Taking Stock - August, 2007 Garbage littered on our Streets - July, 2007 Bear Conservation nad Protection - June, 2007 Role of Captive Elephants in wildlife conservation - May, 2007 Endangered Animals of Sikkim - April, 2007 Citizen Participation in Environmental Issues - March, 2007 Vulture crisis in India - January, 2007 City Parks and Biodiversity - December, 2006 Why is bird census important? - November, 2006 Shooting Wildlife with a Camera - October, 2006 Rain Harvesting - September, 2006 Environmental Education - July, 2006 Tribal Bill - June, 2006 Trekking in the Himalaya Region - May, 2006 Trekking in the Himalayas - May, 2006 Coastal Wildlife - April, 2006 MARINE BIOLOGY - March, 2006 Atmospheric Brown Cloud - February, 2006 Tiger Census - January, 2006 Tiger Task Force Report - December, 2005 Marine Ecosystems Chat dated 18 November 2005 - November, 2005 Coral Reefs - October, 2005 Global Warming - September, 2005 Tourism and Wildlife - August, 2005 Environment Education - July, 2005 Wild Elephants - May, 2005 Tiger Census - April, 2005 Enforcement of Wildlife Act and the Common Man - January, 2005 Crane Migration - November, 2004 Migratory birds of India - October, 2004 Offences Against Wildlife - September, 2004 Man Animal Conflict - August, 2004 Recent Amendments to the Wildlife Act - July, 2004 Is there a case for keeping large mammals in zoos? - June, 2004 Captive elephant management - May, 2004 Conservation of seaturtles - April, 2004 Asiatic Lion - March, 2004 Plight of lesser animals - February, 2004 Mangroves of India - January, 2004 DEER AND ANTELOPE - November, 2003 PHEASANTS - October, 2003 Amphibians - September, 2003 Chat on Butterflies - Our Natural Gardeners - April, 2003 Chat on Asian Elephant - January, 2003 Chat on Migratory Birds - December, 2002 Chat on Snakes - November, 2002 Chat on Rare Birds - August, 2002 Chat on Environmental Issues - July, 2002