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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES specimen I took in Mahabaleshwar was flying with single male at Colaba on 5.vii.1957, but feel that this malaya thwaitsei. specimen may well have been wind blown from much would suggest that the species does occur in further south. I Maharashtraeven ifit is extremely rare. As it is a very weakflierand foundsofarinland, I wouldcertainlynot May 1,2001 BASIL W. WIR1H consider itto be a ‘wind blow’. 5, Settrington Close, Appias warili. I mentioned this species in an Lower Earley, Reading RG6 3XJ, article in the JBNHS some 40 odd years ago. I took a United Kingdom. REFERENCES Evans, W.H. (1932): The identification of Indian Butterflies. 2nd Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957): Butterflies of the Indian Region. Edn. BombayNatural History Society, Bombay. Pp. 1-454, Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay. Pp. xx + 523, 32 pi. 72 pi. STUDIES ON THE ODONATA (INSECTA) FROM A BACKWATERSWAMP 28. OFNORTHERN KERALA Our present knowledge on the odonate fauna record seasonal variation and other related data. The of estuarine and brackish water environments in odonates collected or observed are categorised as India is confined to the state of Orissa and West follows: Bengal on the east coast (Fraser and Drover 1921, A = Abundant: Morethan 1 5 observed duringeach Prasad and Ghosh 1982, 1988). Studies on odonates visit/season from the brackish water areas of the west coast of C = Common: More than 8 observed during each India have not been attempted earlier. Hence, this visit/season study was taken up at Chemballikundu, a backwater UC = Uncommon: Not more than 4 observed during swamp innorth Keralafrom August 1999to September each visit/season 2000 R = Rare: Less than 4 observed during each visit/ . Chemballikundu swamp is a floodplain parallel season to the Ezhimala hills, formed by rivers Ramapuram, NF = Not Found: Not observed duringthe season. Peruvamba and Kavaayi in Kannur district, situated at 12° 31' N and 75° 14' E. The area receives a mean Atotal of21 species ofodonates under 19 genera annual rainfall of 3,000 mm, mainly from the belongingto3 familieswererecordedfromthewetlands southwest monsoon, from June to September. Maxi- of Chemballikundu. The suborders Zygoptera mum and minimum temperatures of 33.4 °C and (damselflies) and Anisoptera (dragonflies) were 18.7 °C are experienced in April and December represented by 8 and 13 species respectively. All respectively. the species are new reports from the area, and also Due to the variation in salinity over the seasons, fromtheestuarineecosystem ofwestern India,whereas the vegetation of the area is diverse, comprising of Aciagrion occidentale and Mortonagrion varralli are species such as Nymphaea nouchali Nymphoides new additions to the estuarine Odonata ofIndia. , indicus Limnophylla heterophylla and Hydrilla The seasonal collection showed a diversity of20 , verticillata, mixed with tall reeds like Mariscus species in post monsoon, 12 species in monsoon and 9 javanicus, Fimbristylis ovata, F. ferruginea and species in pre-monsoon. The low species diversity in F. aestivalis. The embankments alongthe marshes and summer may be due to high salinity resulting from the mudflatsarecovered with patchesofmangrovespecies lowering ofwater level for aquacultural practices. In like Avicennia officinalis, A. marina, Excoecaria summer, the aquatic vegetation and reed beds dry up agallocha, Aegiceras corniculatum, Achrosticum and the entire ecosystem changes till the onset ofthe aureum and Acanthus ilicifolius. The varying micro- Southwest monsoon. Species such as Pseudagrion habitats provide good foraging and breeding grounds microcephalum Mortonagrion varralli Orthetrum , , formany insects. Thewater is saline, exceptforabrief sabina sabina, Brachythemis contaminata. period duringmonsoon. Collectionsweremadeduring Diplacodes trivialis, Pantalaflavescens and Tholymis October 1999 (post-monsoon), February-April 2000 tillargavjexe recordedthroughoutthesurvey, indicating (pre-monsoon)and July-September2000(monsoon),to multivoltinity.Thespecieswere identifiedfromthefauna J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 101 (1), Jan.-Apr. 2004 177 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES of British India series (Fraser 1933-36). The Systematic Account nomenclature follows Fraser (1957), and Prasad and Suborder: Zygoptera Varshney (1995). A detailed systematic account with Superfamily: Coenagrionoidea data on collection, status and habitat of the species Family: Coenagrionidae recorded and notes on behaviour, and ecology ofsome Subfamily: Pseudagrioninae species is given below. Breeding activities: Intense breeding activity 1. Ceriagrion cerinorubellum (Brauer 1865) was observed mostly during monsoon and post- Material examined: 1M, IF; 1.x.1999. 2M, 2F; monsoon. During July 2000, Diplacodes trivialis was 14.ix.2000. observed in wheel position and Tholymis tillarga Field notes: Abundant among sedges along with ovipositing on the open water surface. September Pseudagrion microcephalum immediately after the was favourable for damselflies for mating and monsoon. Many pairs observed in tandem, ovipositing oviposition. Many pairs of Pseudagrion on the floating leaves of Nymphaea nouchali during , microcephalum and Ceriagrion cerinorubellum were September, 2000. seen in tandem, ovipositing on Nymphaea nouchali Status: Pre-monsoon: NF, Monsoon: C, Post- leaves, intermittently resting on the tall Fimbristylis monsoon: A. grasses. Pairs of Rhyothemis variegata variegata wereobserved in tandem, hoveringoverthe vegetation 2. Ceriagrion coromandelianum (Fabricius 1798) during September. Material examined: 1M; 1.x.1999. Emergence: Swarms of newly emerged Field notes: Common during the monsoon, Diplacodes trivialis were observed among the sedges frequents reed beds and aquatic grasses. bordering the bunds in monsoon (July, 2000). Status: Pre-monsoon: NF, Monsoon: R, Post- Interestingly, they were not seen during the September monsoon: C. survey. Exuviae and emerging swarms of Trithemis pallidinervis were seen in September among the 3. Pseudagrion microcephalum (Rambur 1842) mangrove thickets. Material examined: 1M, IF; 1.x. 1999. IF; Roosting: A small roostingpopulation ofTholymis 2.i.2000. 2F; 21 .vii.2000. 2M, 3F; 14.xi.2000. tillarga was observed on Aegiceras corniculatum, a Field notes: Most common. Males regularly small mangrove shrub near the marshland, at around collected throughout the survey from the bund lines, 1900 hrs in July 2000. Mass roosting of Pantala observed slowly sailingthroughthetall reeds. Abundant flavescens was seen on the tall Fimbristylis grasses immediately aftermonsoon. Pairs found in tandem and and Hygrophila plants lining the creeks towards dusk wheel position, also seen ovipositing on Limnophylla (1910 hrs), in July. Mortonagrion varralli were seen heterophylla and Nymphaea nouchali leaves, in roostingamongthe shoreline grasses. tandem. Accompanying behaviour: A small group of 8 Status: Pre-monsoon: C, Monsoon: A, Post- individualsofBrachythemiscontaminatawasobserved monsoon: A. accompanying one of the authors (MJP) during the collection trip. The swarm moved parallel to him, at a Subfamily: Ischnurinae height ofabout 60 cm. When the author stopped to net them, they dispersed; some hovered, some perched on 4. Aciagrion occidentale Laidlaw, 1919 grass. When he resumed wading through the swamp, Material examined: IF; 14.ix.2000. they followed him. This continued over a distance of Field notes: Common during post-monsoon, c. 200 m. Swarms of Trithemis pallidinervis also mixing with Mortonagrion varralli amongthe sedges. exhibitedsimilarbehaviouralongthetrek path liningthe Status: Pre-monsoon: NF, Monsoon: NF, Post wetlands in September. monsoon: C. Predators: The Chemballikundu wetlands are known for diversity ofbirds (Jafer 2000). A flock 5. Ischnura aurora aurora (Brauer 1865) of Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus), and Materialexamined: IM; 1.x.1999. 1M; 14.ix.2000. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercns were seen Field notes: Common. Observedonlyduringpost- ( ) capturing larger species of odonates like Pantala monsoon. Mainly found among the sedges lining the flavescens and Tramea limbata similata especially in aquacultural ponds. , July and September, when the prey species were Status: Pre-monsoon: NF, Monsoon: NF, Post- abundant. monsoon: C. 178 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 101 (1), Jan.-Apr. 2004 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 6. Iscltnura senegalensis (Rambur 1842) Status: Pre-monsoon: NF, Monsoon: NF, Post- Material examined: IF; 18.ii.2000. monsoon: UC. Field notes: Common during pre-monsoon. Status: Pre-monsoon: C, Monsoon: NF, Post- 12. Brachythemis contaminata (Fabricius 1793) monsoon:NF. Materia! examined: 2M, IF; 1.x.1999; IF; 14.ix.2000. Subfamily: Agriocnemidinae Field notes: Commonly observed throughoutthe study, among the emerging macrophytes ofthe creeks. 7. Agriocnemis pygmaea (Rambur 1842) Abundantafter monsoon. Material: 1M; 1.x.1999. Status: Pre-monsoon: R, Monsoon: C, Post- Field notes: Common during post-monsoon. monsoon: A. Frequents grasslands on the banks ofthe swamp. Status: Pre-monsoon: NF, Monsoon: NF, Post- 13. Crocothemis servilia servilia (Drury 1770) monsoon: C. Material examined: 1M; 1.x 1999. Field notes: Common. Found throughout the 8. Mortonagrion varralli Fraser 1920 study, except in summer, in and around paddy fields. Material examined: 1M; 2.i.2000. 4M; Status: Pre-monsoon: R, Monsoon: C, Post- 23.vii.2000. 3M,2F; 14.ix.2000. monsoon: C. Field notes: Abundant. Found among the littoral vegetation in good numbers towards dusk 14. Diplacodes trivialis (Rambur 1842) throughout the survey. Material examined: 2M, 2F; 1.x.1999. IF; Status: Pre-monsoon: C, Monsoon: C, Post- 21.vii.2000. IF; 14.ix.2000. monsoon: A. Field notes: Abundant. Observed throughoutthe survey along the shoreline vegetation. During July, Suborder: Anisoptera unusually large numbers ofteneral forms were found Superfamily: Aeshnoidea congregatingon the shore. Breedingpairs were seen in Family: Gomphidae July. Subfamily: Lindeniinae Status: Pre-monsoon: UC, Monsoon: A, Post- monsoon: UC. 9. lctinogomphus rapax (Rambur 1842) Field notes: Uncommon. Frequents paddyfields, 15. Neurothemis tidlia tullia (Drury 1773) reed beds and other aquatic vegetation during the Field notes: Uncommon. Frequentsreed bedsand monsoon and post-monsoon. paddyfields,especiallyduringmonsoon. Status: Pre-monsoon: NF, Monsoon: UC, Post- Status: Pre-monsoon: NF, Monsoon: R, Post- monsoon: R. monsoon: UC. Family: Libellulidae Subfamily: Trithemistinae Subfamily: Libellulinae 16. Trithemis pallidinervis (Kirby 1889) 10. Orthetrum sabina sabina (Drury 1770) Material examined: 1M, 2F; 14.x.2000. Material examined: 1M; 2.i.2000. Field notes: AbundantduringSeptember. Swarms Field notes: Common. Observed throughout ofthis species found fluttering around the thickets of the season, hovering over the mangrove vegetation. grass near aquaculture ponds. Status: Pre-monsoon: C, Monsoon: C, Post- Status: Pre-monsoon: NF, Monsoon: A, Post- monsoon: C. monsoon: A. Subfamily: Sympetrinae Subfamily: Trameinae 11.AcisomapanorpoidespanorpoidesRambur 1842 17. Rhyotliemis variegata variegata (Linnaeus 1763) Material examined: IF; 14.ix.2000. Material examined: 1M; 1.x.1999. Field Notes: Abundant, swarmsactiveduringthe Field notes: Uncommon. A single specimen post-monsoon. Breeding activities observed during collected in October from tall Fimbristylis grass. September. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 101 (1), Jan.-Apr. 2004 179 . MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 21. Status: Pre-monsoon: NF, Monsoon: A, Post- Macrodiplax cora (Brauer 1867) monsoon: A. Material examined: 1M; l.x.1999. Field notes: Rare. A single specimen collected 18. Pantalaflavescens (Fabricius 1798) immediatelyafterthemonsoon. Material examined: IF; 23.vii.2000. 1M; Status: Pre-monsoon: NF, Monsoon: NF, Post- 14.ix.2000. monsoon: R. Field notes: Swarms of this species observed ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS throughout the survey. Activities intense during post- monsoon. Status: Pre-monsoon: C, Monsoon: UC, Post- We thank Dr. J.R.B. Alfred, Director, Zoological monsoon: A. SurveyofIndiaand Sri. C. Radhakrishnan,Jt. Director, Zoological Survey of India, Western Ghats Field 19. Tramea limbata similata Rambur 1842 Research Station, Calicut for providing facilities and Material examined: 1M; 14.ix.2000. encouragement. Field notes: Common in September. Foundsoaring over the wetlands along with Pantalaflavescens. July30, 2001 MUHAMED JAFER PALOT Status: Pre-monsoon: NF, Monsoon: C, Post- V.P. SONIYA* monsoon: C. Zoological SurveyofIndia, Western Ghats Field Research Station, 20. Tholymis tillarga (Fabricius 1798) AnnieHall Road, Materialexamined: IF; 1.x.1999, 1M;21.vii.2000. Calicut673 002, Field notes: Observed throughout the survey. Kerala, India. Abundant in monsoon. Found patrolling all along the wetlandareawith greatspeed andagilitytowardsdusk. *Present Address: Zoological SurveyofIndia, Many specimens found hanging on the twigs of FreshwaterBiological Station, Aegiceras corniculatum at c. 1840 hrs on a rainy day. 1-1-300/B, AshokNagar, Status: Pre-monsoon: C, Monsoon: A, Post- Hyderabad 500 020, monsoon: C. Andhra Pradesh, India. REFERENCES Fraser, F.C. (1933-1936): The Fauna ofBritish India, including Kerala. Ceylon and Burma. Odonata. Vol. I-III. Taylor & Francis, Prasad,M.&S.K.Ghosh(1982):StudiesontheEstuarineOdonata London. from 24 Parganas districtofWest Bengal, with a note on the Fraser, F.C.(1957): AreclassificationoftheorderOdonata. Royal reproductivebehaviourin Urothemissignatasignata(Rambur) Zool Soc NSW. HandbookNo. 12. Pp. 58. (Odonata: Insecta).J Bombaynat. Hist. Soc. 79(2):290-295. Fraser,F.C.&C.Drover(1921):TheDragonfliesofBarkudaIsland. Prasad, M. & S.K. Ghosh(1988): Acontribution on theestuarine Rec. IndianMus. 24: 303-31 1 odonatesofEastIndia. Rec. zool Surv. India85(2): 197-216. Jafer Palot. M. (2000): Habitat use of birds ofNorth Malabar Prasad,M.&A.K.Varshney(1995):AchecklistoftheOdonataof coast with special reference to White-bellied Sea Eagle, India including data on larval stages. Oriental Ins. 29: Haliaeetus leucogaster. Ph D. Thesis, University ofCalicut, 385-428. 29. THE PULMONATE SNAIL OPEASGRAC1LE(HUTT—ON), STYLOMMATOPHORA: SUBULINIDAE: OPEATINAE ANEWRECORD FROM JAMMU PROVINCE,JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE In the literature on the malacofauna of Jammu B. monticola(Hutton),Euansteniamonticola(Hutton), ProvinceofJammuand KashmirState(Theobald 878, Syama splendens (Hutton) (Family Ariophantidae), 1 Verma et al. 1996, and Duda et al. 1999) the Umax maximus Ferrusac (Family Limacidae) and stylommatophore gastropods reported from Jammu Planispira sp. (Family Helicidae). Province are: Ena Subzebrinus arcuatus Pfeiffer WhilecollectingmolluscsofJammuand Kashmir ( ) (Family Enidae), Anadenus altivagus (Theobald) State, weobtained several specimensofthepulmonate (FamilyArionidae), Bensoniajammuensis(Theobald), snail Opeasgracile(Hutton)(Subulinidae: Opeatinae) 180 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 101 (1), Jan.-Apr. 2004