from Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Jun 17: Increasing human development in Western Ghats is forcing the region's most loved damselfly – Malabar Torrent Dart – to change its habitation and go deep in the forest.

The environmentalists feel that the drying of water bodies coupled with the human presence in the forest and construction of dams have forced this species endemic to Western Ghat to change their  locations.

"They cannot survive without water bodies. They are forced to move to deeper locations. This is an uncommon damselfly and contributes for the rich bio diversity of Sahyadri range of forest," Parag Rangnekar, an environmentalist, says.

Rangnekar, who has authored a book on Goa's butterflies, has an extensive study on the dragonfly and damselflies in this region. The stunning revealation came for Rangnekar during his recent trip to the Western Ghat during monsoons when he found the shifting of habitats.

"Malabar Torrent Dart (Euphaea fraseri) found in the hills and mountain forests of Goa. As the name suggests it lives around and breeds in flowing streams," he said.

"Being a specialist in terms of its habitat preference, this uncommon damselfly is an indicator of the health of the riverine eco system," Rangnekar added.

Sahyadri hill ranges are considered as world's most famous bio diversity hotspots and utter need to save them from human encroachment is expressed by the environmentalists, who are conducting research on these forests and hills.

Incidently, these forests are home for Malabar gliding frog, which is seen only during the monsoons before hibernating in the thick tree canopy for the entire year.

Similar is the case with Malabar torrent dart, a fly, which is unique to this place and mostly found in undisturbed areas. Their activity is high during  May to December months of the year.

"It lays eggs only in flowing streams and rivulets. Any change in this flow due to human intrusion, such as dams, developmental projects or simple monoculture practices which have an impact on riparian eco systems (ecosystems around river) will have a direct impact on the egg-laying preference of the damselfly and can be forced to move out," he said. 

Interestingly, the Malabar Torrent Dart once thought to be endemic to the Western Ghats was recently reported from the Eastern Ghats, thus underlining the importance of more detailed study of these important components of the food-chain. 

Rangnekar said that it is the need of the hour to study the insect world around us. "These "not-so-important" organisms, by their mere presence, tell us much more about the health of an eco system than our most sophisticated gadgets," he added.