Into the Database of Bencoolen Odonata: Synthesis of Two Years Dragonfly Survey in Bengkulu Province

Abstract

Abstract Bengkulu, as part of Sumatra, receives less attention for its odonatological aspect during the current advance of life science. Historical records on Odonata were contributed by many foreign researchers from Dutch colonial era, including accounts provided by Lieftinck and Ris. In order to compile Odonata database for Bengkulu, there have been conducted dragonfly surveys from two years ago at some representative sites in this province. Conservation area of Seluma in the southern Bengkulu was visited in 2019 for two weeks survey, while conservation area of Lemo Nakai was surveyed in 2020 for the same work duration. Random survey and continuous citizen science have been performed at Bengkulu City to further the database from human impacted area. Thirty-five species were recorded from Seluma, thirty-nine were from Lemo Nakai and ten species were observed to exist within the human impacted area in Bengkulu City. In total, there were total 52 dragonfly species recorded within the administrative boundary of Bengkulu Province which more than half of historical Odonata records for this province. Thirty-one species belonged to Anisoptera (true dragonflies) and twenty-one species are grouped into Zygoptera (damselflies). Some noteworthy records are highlighted in this paper, such as the rare Dysphaea dimidiata (Euphaeidae), Anax panybeus (Aeshnidae) and Orthetrum schneideri (Libellulidae); Sumatran endemic Heliocypha angusta angusta (Chlorocyphidae) and Megalogomphus sumatranus (Gomphidae); as well as the observation of three Aeshnid species within human settlement in Bengkulu City. Further details on prominent Odonata species were also outlined along with their significances.