Gynacantha khasiaca Rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh

Gynacantha khasiaca, commonly called the Long-tailed Duskhawker, was rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh after 110 years. The species was sighted in October 2024 during a biodiversity survey in Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve in Changlang district.

Species Profile

Gynacantha khasiaca is a dragonfly species in the family Aeshnidae. The male has pale blue-green eyes, a bright green thorax with dark stripes, transparent amber-tinted wings, and a long black-tipped abdomen.

Historical Record in India

The last confirmed record of the species in Arunachal Pradesh dated to the Abor Expedition of 1914. The recent sighting became the first confirmed record from the state in more than a century.

Survey and Documentation

The dragonfly was photographed along the Miao–Vijaynagar road by four citizen scientists: R. Mahesh, Rajesh Gopinath, Gaurav Joshi, and Roshan Upadhaya. The finding was documented in the latest issue of the Journal of Threatened Taxa.

Important Facts for Exams

• Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve is located in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The Abor Expedition took place in 1914 in the eastern Himalaya region.
• Dragonflies belong to the order Odonata, which also includes damselflies.
• The Long-tailed Duskhawker has also been recorded from Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.

Distribution and Habitat

Outside India, the species has been reported from Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Within India, confirmed records exist from Assam, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and Maharashtra.

Field Ecology

The species is associated with forest edges and dense vegetation. Its detection in Arunachal Pradesh was linked to rugged terrain and limited biodiversity surveys in the region.