Odonata Unveiled: A Differential Diagnosis of Recent Odonata Species Discovered in India

Odonata, commonly known as dragonflies and damselflies, represent a fascinating and diverse order of insects found throughout the world, with a rich evolutionary history dating back hundreds of millions of years. Odonates are diverse group of insects with around 6407 valid species throughout the world, out of which 498 species have been recorded in India. These insects are characterized by their striking, often vibrant, colors, large compound eyes, and elongated bodies. This review provides a concise overview of the various new Odonata species discovered in recent years in India. Odonata, like all living organisms, continue to evolve because evolution is a fundamental and ongoing process in the natural world. Several factors contribute to why Odonata, along with all species, are still evolving. In recent years different species have been discovered from both the suborders that is, Anisoptera and Zygoptera of the order Odonata. Different species have been mainly discovered from Kerala, and Maharashtra. The species are identified on the basis of their external features, markings and similarities and dissimilarities from the similar species. This also covers the importance of newly found species, their ecological value and their importance in the environment as a wetland marker.