The Odonata of St Lucia (Lesser Antilles) - Société l'Herminier

The Odonata of St Lucia(Lesser Antilles)Survey Report March 9-30 2011Céline Poiron & François MeurgeyL’Herminier Natural History SocietyContribution to odonatology # 2May 2011

The Odonata of St Lucia(Lesser Antilles)Survey Report March 9-30 2011Céline Poiron & François MeurgeyCover: Cul-de-Sac Flooded Forest at Castries © L’Herminier Natural History Society contribution to odonatology # 2- François Meurgey

CONTENTSINTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 4MATERIAL AND METHODS ...................................................................................................................... 5Localities surveyed .............................................................................................................................. 5Comments on the list .......................................................................................................................... 7ODONATA RECORDED FROM ST LUCIA................................................................................................... 8Comments on the list .......................................................................................................................... 8RESULTS................................................................................................................................................... 9SPECIES ACCOUNT................................................................................................................................... 9ZYGOPTERA...................................................................................................................................... 9ANISOPTERA .................................................................................................................................. 12DISCUSSION........................................................................................................................................... 17CONSERVATION..................................................................................................................................... 18AKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................... 19BIBLIOGRAPHY....................................................................................................................................... 19DISTRIBUTION MAPS .......................................................................................Erreur ! Signet non défini.

INTRODUCTIONStudies on odonata of the Lesser Antilles have begun in 2000 in order to increase knowledge onspecies biology, ecology and biogeography. The L’Herminier Natural History Society and the NantesMuseum of Natural History carried out several studies in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Dominica, StVincent and Grenada since 2000 and a book on the Dragonflies of the Lesser Antilles is actually inprogress. Recent data from the Lesser Antillean islands were greatly needed in order to understandthe biogeography of the Lesser Antillean Dragonflies. Where the species did came from? What isexactly the dragonfly fauna composition? These questions remain to be solved.This is why an intensive survey of St Lucia was carried out from March 9th to March 30th 2011. Thisstudy was financed by both the L’Herminier Natural History Society (LHNHS). Our primary aim was toupdate the checklist of species, since only two papers are known to us concerning the dragonflyfauna of the island (Klots, 1932; Sibley, 2009). Fred Sibley spent few days in St Lucia where hecollected 21 species.Our major aim was to point out the distribution of species to establish distribution maps, in a way toobtain information on the conservation status of species.Generally speaking, a checklist of species must be considered as a tool for conservation matters. Datagathered on both ecology and biology on the field are intended to allow us to estimate theconservation status of species and their habitats, and then to apply the correct conservatorymanagement.

MATERIAL AND METHODSThe Island was prospected during three weeks (march 9 to March 29) in a way to survey the most ofaquatic habitats. The most of adults were caught with an aerial net. Exuviae were collected alongwith adult stage. Dragonflies larvae lives under water and after several numerous molts, reachmetamorphosis. Emergence take place out of water and remains the skin of the larva, called exuvia.Collecting exuviae (Fig.1) provides a good idea about odonatebreeding habitats. For each species a minimum of two pairswere caught, to constitute a reference collection in the NMNHand to try to answer taxonomic problems concerningneotropical species.Identification of species was first realized on the field, and inFrance, specimens were closely checked and named with thehelp of the NMNH collection and specialized books.Stations were first located on a map, and chosen after theiraccessibility and their repartition on the Island. The objectivewas to explore the island the most homogeneously as possible.We decided to separate St Lucia in three parts (north, south,center) and to spend one week by part. Localities cited by FredSibley were not visited. We considered that the data wererecent and we preferred to conduct our researches in unknownsites. Geographical data were completed with a GARMIN GPS(GPSMAP 60 CSx ). A protocol was developed to describe similarly the habitats of each station : lenticor lotic aquatic habitat, depth, length, width, vegetation… and we noted the number and the sex ofspecies present. To describe more precisely aquatic habitats we also collected some plants with Mr.Leroy St Louis's permit. The herbarium was described at the museum. In order to maximize thechance to see the totality of species living in the surveyed localities we spend between 30 minutes toone hour by station.Projection datum is UTM zone 20N/WGS84.We surveyed 76 stations, distributed as follows :Localities surveyedExuviae of Orthemis macrothemis(C.POIRON, 2011).Vieux-Fort parish X UTM Y UTMSLU001 Vieux-Fort Police divisional headquarters, ditch 721771.3432 1518805.04SLU002 Hewanorra airport, ditch near the pists 722127.0639 1519591.94SLU003 Pointe des sables, ditch 722687.4307 1519425.19SLU004 Anse de Sables, river mouth 722277.1778 1518691.3SLU005 Builder's choice, canal 722088.3503 1518844.62SLU006 Charlery's inn, swamped canal 721293.3446 1519038.91SLU007 Jetty 1, littoral trail, xerophile area 720527.9287 1518720.72SLU008 Jetty 2, temporary pond near a quarry 720418.1667 1518693.97SLU020 Grace, river 719129.1189 1523819.69SLU021 Warwick, affluent of the river Piaye 718070.9338 1527254.23SLU022 Daban, trail in banana plantation 718351.3861 1527555.38

SLU023 Stade George Odlum stadium, pond 722541.691 1521500.75SLU027 Rivière de Vieux-Fort 1, river 719691.8462 1519298.33SLU028 Rivière de Vieux-Fort 2, swamp and pond 719588.3509 1519384.15SLU045 Black Bay River 718012.2031 1520283.88Micoud ParishSLU009 Ravine Bethel (Anse Ger) 726320.6039 1525648.3SLU010 Troumasse Estate 1, lake 726800.7125 1527642.67SLU011 Troumasse Estate 2, shaded pond 726889.6592 1527571.52SLU012 Ravine Conore, stream 726330.2545 1528055.41SLU013 Planard, ditch 725006.9416 1527464.73SLU014 Ravine Victorine, stream 724976.093 1527488.44SLU015 Ravine Viancelle, stream 719258.5446 1528559SLU016 Canelles River 1, river 722213.3378 1526167.99SLU017 Canelles River 2, stream under the road 722036.1454 1526231.03SLU018 Calypso 1, stream 719118.0975 1529821.22SLU019 Calypso 2, river 719142.8285 1529880.45SLU059 Mahaut 1, open area at the top of a hill 723385.5972 1530494.02SLU060 Mahaut 2, stream 723020.7751 1530372.83SLU061 Mahaut 3, trail 722902.5776 1530703.81SLU062 Volet Estate, river 726442.7412 1529415.76Gros-Islet ParishSLU064 Gros Islet, puddle 720883.8933 1558736.54SLU065 Cas en Bas Estate, stream 722701.1081 1557833.88SLU066 Trims Riding Stables, pond 722430.2894 1557715.3SLU067 La Feuillet, stream 721914.7025 1555316.69SLU068 Monchy 1, stream 723359.4667 1554823.95SLU071 Grande Rivière 1, river 720539.5188 1553395.74SLU072 Grande Rivière 2, stream 721841.232 1551966.53Laborie ParishSLU024 Mont Lezard estate 1, dry pond 713412.7317 1523829.3SLU025 Mont Lezard estate 2, pond in cultures 713398.1904 1523843.94SLU026 Gayabois 714587.8319 1524949.27Dauphin ParishSLU029 Ravine Marquis River, affluent of Marquis river 725313.0893 1551771.94SLU030 Marquis River, river 725446.0309 1551808.16SLU031 Boguis, ravine of Marquis River 725229.3075 1550245.81SLU069 La Borne, stream 723940.1357 1553904.97SLU070 Monchy 2, river 723344.0875 1554729.74SLU074 Vergallier river 724671.0553 1549012.47Dennery ParishSLU032 Bazile, stream 725088.9844 1538736.91SLU033 Deux-Branches1, puddles 723215.4553 1537042.15SLU034 Deux-Branches2, stream 723143.0198 1537083.94SLU035 Deux-Branches3, Dennery River 722812.6545 1537365.13SLU054 Fond d'Or River 1, river 727827.3451 1540806.55SLU055 Fond d'Or River 2, pond near the river 727652.7478 1540788.41SLU056 Grande Ravine 1, seeps 722174.512 1542405.98SLU057 Grande Ravine 2, puddles 723216.8157 1542284.07Praslin Parish

SLU058 L'Orangerie, trail 726006.0875 1530915.18SLU063 Praslin Bay, mangrove 727357.308 1535274.46Castries ParishSLU036 Ravine Poisson, Minvielle, stream 719124.5534 1540730.87SLU037 Bexon, swamp 718059.4696 1546286.35SLU073 La Fitte, stream 720002.2725 1548455.41SLU075 Cul de Sac River, flooded forest 715218.7841 1546966.86SLU076 Cul de Sac River, ponds 715933.6185 1546775.53Anse-La-Raye ParishSLU038 Millet 1, stream 716050.2262 1539126.06SLU039 Millet 2, swamp 716112.4370 1539012.23SLU040 Millet 3, stream 716428.8518 1539306.3SLU041 Dame de traversay, little affluent of Millet river 716971.4094 1540341.88SLU042 Grande Riviere, stream 712189.0641 1542659.01SLU043 Mouth of Petite Rivière 711582.4835 1542165.25SLU053 Canaries River 709362.9567 1537772.38Soufriere ParishSLU044 Soufrière, beach 709703.5230 1532666.45SLU046 Fond St-Jacques 1, river 713194.3051 1530446.78SLU047 Fond St-Jacques 2, basin resulting from the collapse of a stream 714229.2913 1530601.03SLU048 Malgrétoute, mouth of stream, near the beach 709437.1055 1531074.51SLU049 Ravine Claire, stream 713209.9909 1531605.15SLU050 Cresslands, pond 711635.5207 1532416.62SLU051 Ravine Torail, stream 711723.4823 1532457.91SLU052 Ravine Duval, stream 710572.5537 1536585.28Comments on the listThe localities distributional map show that the islandwas relatively well prospected. The majority of aquatichabitats were surveyed : river (SLU046, SLU053…),mangrove (SLU063), swamps ( SLU039,SLU037…),ravine (SLU051,SLU052…), lake (SLU010), pond(SLU023, SLU024, SLU025…), forest (SLU075,…).Some dragonflies were found in puddles, ditches,littoral trails, drain, canal… which are anthropichabitats.

ODONATA RECORDED FROM ST LUCIA21 species of Odonata were recorded from St Lucia during this study, as follows. Species observed bySibley (2009) are in brackets. New island records are in bold.ZYGOPTERAFamily LestidaeLestes forficula Rambur, 1842Lestes spumarius Hagen in Selys, 1862Lestes tenuatus Rambur, 1842Family ProtoneuridaeProtoneura ailsa Donnelly, 1961Family CoenagrionidaeEnallagma coecum (Hagen, 1861)Ischnura ramburii (Selys, 1850)Telebasis corallina (Selys, 1876)ANISOPTERAFamily AeshnidaeGynacantha nervosa Rambur, 1842Triacanthagyna caribbea (Williamson, 1923)[Triacanthagyna trifida (Rambur, 1842)]Family Libellulidae[Brachymesia furcata (Hagen, 1861)]Brachymesia herbida (Gundlach, 1889)Brechmorhoga archboldi (Donnelly, 1970)Dythemis sterilis Hagen, 1861Erythemis vesiculosa (Fabricius, 1775)Erythrodiplax umbrata (Linné, 1758)Miathyria marcella (Selys, 1856)Micrathyria aequalis (Hagen, 1861)Micrathyria didyma (Sélys, 1857)Orthemis macrostigma (Rambur, 1872)Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798)Tholymis citrina (Hagen, 1861)Tramea abdominalis (Rambur, 1842)Tramea calverti Muttkowski, 1910[Tramea insularis Hagen, 1861]Comments on the listOn the 21 species mentioned by Sibley (20089), two weren’t collected during this study. We failed tofind Triacanthagyna trifida but we observed several T. caribbea in a single location. Brachymesiafurcata was mentioned by Sibley (2009) from the Golf Course at Cap Estate but we didn’t survey thislocation and Tramea insularis is totally absent in the surveyed stations.On the other hand, 5 species are reported for the first time from St Lucia : Lestes spumarius,Triacanthagyna caribbea (common in Guadeloupe and Martinique), Brechmorhoga archboldi(previously known only from Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique and Grenada), Miathyria marcella(widespread in the Neotropics) and Tramea calverti which is a vagrant species from Central andSouth America. If some of these species was expected (Miathyria marcella, Tramea calverti), theremaining three are more interesting.The checklist of species number actually 25 species.

RESULTSSPECIES ACCOUNTZYGOPTERADuring this study we observed, captured and identified 7 species belonging to three families and to 5genera. Actually Zygopterans are represented in the Lesser Antilles by 10 species, St Lucia host 60%of the species of which one is an endemic species at regional scale, being present only in Dominica,Martinique and St Lucia (Protoneura ailsa).Family LestidaeThree species have been recorded during this survey. St Lucia is actually the single island which hostthe three West Indian species of this genus.Lestes forficula Rambur, 1842 Rainpool SpreadwingDistribution: SLU025, SLU066.This species is widespread throughout the West Indies,and often abundant in ponds, lakes in agricultural areas.Lack of ponds in St Lucia can explain the paucity of thistaxa. Sibley (2009) report this species from only twolocalities in the north of the island ; Castries (2 males)and Cap Estate (4 males, 1 female).Lestes tenuatus (Rambur, 1842) Blue-striped SpreadwingDistribution: SLU063Uncommon in the Lesser Antilles. Contrary to L. forficula,Lestes tenuatus is found mainly in shaded areas, inwoody edges, forested habitats such as forest ponds andmangrove swamps. We found a single male at PraslinBay, in a heavily disturbed mangrove swamp. Sibley(2009) report this species from only one locality, north ofFond D’Or River near Micoud.9

Lestes spumarius Hagen in Selys, 1862 Antillean SpreadwingDistribution: SLU075This is the first record for this species on St Lucia, and the single recent record for the LesserAntilles, being known only from the Greater Antilles. In spite of intensive researches, we failed to findother specimens. It appears that this species is rare, but deserve special attention due to its habitat.Family ProtoneuridaeOnly two species of this family occurs in the Lesser Antilles. One is endemic from Dominica,Martinique and St Lucia and the other is restricted to Guadeloupe.Protoneura ailsa Donnelly, 1961 Ailsa’s ThreadtailDistribution: SLU014, SLU015, SLU018, SLU018, SLU019, SLU020,SLU021, SLU029, SLU031, SLU034, SLU035, SLU038, SLU040, SLU042,SLU046, SLU049, SLU052, SLU060, SLU073, SLU074Regional endemic. This species, described from St Lucia is the onlyspecies of its genus in St Lucia. Although present in Dominica andMartinique, P. ailsa appear to be more abundant and widelydistributed on St Lucia than in other two islands. The distribution ofthis species show that the most of existing populations are notconcerned by natural reserves areas. Sibley (2009) mention P. ailsafrom 4 stations (Soufrière, Micoud, Millet). We recorded this speciesfrom 20 localities distributed throughout the island (26%).Family CoenagrionidaeEnallagma coecum (Hagen, 1861) Antillean BluetDistribution:SLU015,SLU017,SLU018,SLU019,SLU021,SLU035,SLU046,SLU047,SLU049,SLU060As for neighboring Martinique, E. coecum seems to becommon and widely distributed in St Lucia, being presentfrom the sea level up to 150 ft. This species was found in9 of the 76 localities surveyed (12%). In Guadeloupe,Dominica and Martinique, this species inhabits swamps,bogs, springs generally highly vegetated. At the reverse,it frequents in St Lucia lotic habitats such as montanestreams and rivers, even in forest and can be found in shaded parts of small tributaries in forest.10

Family LibellulidaeThis family is undoubtedly the most important in the West Indies. 12 species have been previouslymentioned by Sibley (2009) of which 2 were not observed during this study. We surveyed 13 speciesfrom which 3 constitute new island records. Undoubtedly, several other species could be recordedfrom St Lucia during the next year, such as Pantala hymenaea, Tramea basilaris (an Afrotropicalspecies appearing irregularly in the New World).Brachymesia herbida (Gundlach, 1889) Tawny PennantDistribution: SLU004, SLU005, SLU006, SLU016, SLU023,SLU027, SLU043, SLU045, SLU062, SLU070, SLU074,Common in lowlands and dry areas, especially in thesouthern part of St Lucia. This species frequent generallyponds and lakes, but can also be found in slow flowing rivers,even polluted. This species was recorded from 11 locations(14%).Brechmorhoga archboldi (Donnelly, 1970) Archbold’s SkimmerDistribution: SLU059Recorded for the first time from St Lucia, being previously knownfrom Guadeloupe, Dominica and Martinique. Rare, a single femalecollected at the top of a hill near Dennery, an other individual missed.This species is a Lesser Antillean endemic which lives in fast flowingmontane rivers, often covered with canopy.This species needs further studies in a way to pint out its distributionand to find larval habitats.Dythemis sterilis Hagen, 1861 Brown SetwingDistribution: SLU014, SLU015, SLU016, SLU019, SLU020,SLU021, SLU022, SLU029, SLU032, SLU034, SLU035,SLU036, SLU038, SLU040, SLU045, SLU046, SLU047,SLU049, SLU052, SLU060, SLU061, SLU067, SLU068,SLU069, SLU070, SLU073, SLU074This species was recorded by Sibley but misidentified asDythemis multipunctata which is endemic from StVincent. Although slightly different in color pattern,specimens from St Lucia belongs to D. sterilis.Common and often abundant, D. sterilis frequents fastflowing water such as rivers and streams, generally up to 100 meters altitude.13

Erythemis vesiculosa (Fabricius, 1775) Great PondhawkErythrodiplax umbrata (Linné, 1758) Band-winged DragonletDistribution: SLU002, SLU005, SLU012, SLU014, SLU016,SLU020, SLU027, SLU028, SLU043, SLU045, SLU046, SLU049,SLU054, SLU055, SLU070, SLU074, SLU076Widespread in the West Indies, E. vesiculosa is one of thecommonest species. Generally this species lives in standingwater such as ponds, lakes in lowlands and we weresurprised to observe this species in open, slow flowing riversand streams.Distribution: SLU002, SLU003, SLU015, SLU016, SLU020,SLU023, SLU025, SLU028, SLU033, SLU037, SLU039, SLU043,SLU045, SLU050, SLU052, SLU053, SLU055, SLU059, SLU061,SLU063, SLU065, SLU066, SLU068, SLU074, SLU076Common and abundant, widespread in the West Indies.Erythrodiplax umbrata lives in standing water generally inseepages, ditches or ponds. Populations can be veryimportant reaching frequently up to 100 individuals. It isimportant to notice that this species do not breeds in openwater, but always at the edges of aquatic habitats, in the mud, bogs and springs. This is why it is veryimportant to manage and conserve the neighbourhoods of standing water habitats.Miathyria marcella (Selys, 1856) Hiacynth GliderDistribution: SLU026Recorded for the first time from St Lucia. Rare to uncommonin the West Indies, typically a lacustrine species. Larvae arestrongly associated with floating mats of Water Hyacinth(Eichhornia crassipes) or Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)and the species has spread into the West Indies with thespread of these plants. Populations in densely vegetatedhabitats can be very important, reaching often 100-200individuals. The eradication of the Water Lettuce in some areas can have an impact on thepopulations of this species.14

Micrathyria aequalis (Hagen, 1861) Spot-tailed DasherDistribution : SLU004, SLU005, SLU010, SLU012, SLU014, SLU016,SLU025, SLU026, SLU027, SLU028, SLU037, SLU043, SLU045, SLU054,SLU066, SLU070, SLU071, SLU074, SLU076Common, abundant and widely distributed throughout the West Indies.This species lives in standing water habitats such as ponds in agriculturalareas. However, we observed important populations in open, slowflowing rivers in St Lucia.Micrathyria didyma (Selys, 1857) Three-striped DasherDistribution: SLU004Uncommon in the Lesser Antilles. This species frequentsflooded forests and forested swamps in shaded areas. This isone of the very few species that reproduce in this type ofhabitat.Orthemis macrostigma (Rambur, 1872) Antillean SkimmerDistribution:SLU001, SLU002, SLU003, SLU004, SLU005, SLU008, SLU011,SLU012, SLU013, SLU016, SLU020, SLU021, SLU022, SLU024,SLU025, SLU026, SLU028, SLU030, SLU033, SLU034, SLU035,SLU037, SLU038, SLU039, SLU041, SLU045, SLU046, SLU047,SLU048, SLU049, SLU050, SLU057, SLU059, SLU061, SLU063,SLU064, SLU065, SLU066, SLU067, SLU068, SLU070, SLU073,SLU074, SLU076Very common in the Lesser Antilles. O. macrostigma lives instanding water habitats and prefer cattle ponds and alsoditches. It virtually can breed in every type of standing water habitat. Adults can be observed faraway from water in terrestrial environment; trails, pastures or beaches. This species was recorded on44 of the 76 locations surveyed (57%, n=76).15

Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) Wandering GliderDistribution: SLU003, SLU007, SLU016, SLU027, SLU028,SLU037, SLU039, SLU043, SLU047, SLU054, SLU059,SLU064, SLU068, SLU076A cosmopolitan species that can breed in virtually everytype of standing water habitat available. Larva can growwithin three weeks and can support temporary dryness.Tholymis citrina (Hagen, 1861) Evening SkimmerDistribution: SLU011, SLU044Nocturnal species generally uncommon, but may beabundant in some localities. Only two individuals seenduring this survey. Tholymis citrina lives in standing waterhabitats such as forested ponds or ditches.Tramea abdominalis (Rambur, 1842) Vermillion SaddlebagsDistribution: SLU016 SLU025 SLU026 SLU037 SLU039SLU045 SLU063 SLU066 SLU070 SLU071 SLU074 SLU075Highly common species throughout the West Indies. Verycommon and often abundant. Not really common in StLucia because of the lack of suitable habitats, such ascattle ponds and lakes.Tramea calverti Muttkowski, 1910 Calvert’s SaddlebagsDistribution: SLU043Recorded for the first time from St Lucia. Trameacalverti is a highly vagrant species distributed in Centraland South America, reaching the West Indies irregularly.This species frequent standing water habitats and preferswamps in open land or seepages and sea shore.16

DISCUSSIONThe dragonfly fauna of the Lesser Antilles actually numbers 48 valid species (Meurgey & Poiron, inprep). There are 38 species in Guadeloupe (Meurgey, 2006b), 30 in Martinique (Meurgey, 2005)which both are the richest islands. Species richness decrease to the south with only 7 species in StVincent (Meurgey, 2010) and 19 in Grenada (Meurgey, 2009).Saint Lucia appear as a medium rich island, and the paucity of species could be due to 1) the lack ofstanding water habitats (95% of odonata reproduce in standing water), and 2) the lack of studies,with only two surveys known to us. Among surveyed stations, 62% belongs to lotic habitats and 30%to lentic habitats. The remaining pertain to specific habitats : trail, grassland, ditch… The number ofspecies in Martinique, which is quite equal to those of St Lucia, is due to a high level of disturbances,pollutions and urbanization.We think that the fauna of St Lucia could reach 30-35 species.Hurricane Tomas passed by the Island in November 2010. He especially opened many forested areas.We observed that several streams and rivers are now open, without canopy and colonized by vagrantspecies such as Pantala flavescens, Orthemis macrostigma or Tramea abdominalis. We also saw treesdown across rivers creating microhabitats and promoting the development of some species such asProtoneura ailsa. This information must be verify with further surveys before and after the passageof an hurricane. It is difficult to have an idea of what species could be present in these habitatsbefore Tomas.As for other islands, the odonate fauna of St Lucia is dominated by wide ranging species. Two ofthem, Ischnura ramburii and Orthemis macrostigma are the commonest species in a great variety ofhabitat. The most interesting thing is that these two common species are followed by LesserAntillean endemics (Protoneura ailsa and Dythemis sterilis), which have been recorded from 20 (26%)and 27 (36%) localities respectively.35302520151050IschnuraramburiiProtoneuraailsaEnallagmacoecumTelebasiscorallinaLestesspumariusLestestenuatusFig. 1. Frequency per species (number of stations, n=76) - Zygoptera17

50454035302520151050OrthemismacrostigmaDythemissterilisErythrodiplaxumbrataMicrathyriaaequalisErythemisvesiculosaPantalaflavescensTrameaabdominalisBrachymesiaherbidaTholymiscitrinaMiathyriamarcellaMicrathyriadidymaTrameacalvertiCONSERVATIONSpecies and protected areasThe map shows the distribution of the regionalendemic Protoneura ailsa (light blue dots)depending on the protected areas. Note that themost of surveyed populations were foundoutside these areas. This could be explain bythe inaccessibility of the central forest reservewhich could, or not, harbor this species. Amongthe 20 stations surveyed on the island , 9 aresituated within protected areas, and only 4 ofthem harbour populations of P. ailsa.Generally speaking, the most of odonatesspecies in St Lucia, as for other Lesser Antilleanislands, lives in standing water habitats. Westrongly suggest to survey and manage ponds,lakes and flooded forests to preserve theodonate biodiversity.18

AKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe wish to thank warmly Rebecca Rocks (Forestry Department) who kindly provided us with islandmaps and GIS, Alwin Dornelly (Forestry Department) who provided us with collecting permit andSaint Louis (Plant Quarantine Unit – Vieux-Fort) for providing us with export permit.Thanks to Pierre and Claudine Guezennec for the use of their photos. We also thank Fred Sibley(New York, USA) for is previous work on the odonate fauna of St Lucia and for his infos.BIBLIOGRAPHYBarbour T., 1914. A contribution to the Zoogeography of the West Indies with especial reference toAmphibians and Reptiles, Cambridge, USA.Blondel J., 1995. Biogéographie : Approche écologique et évolutive. Ed. Masson, Paris, 297 p.Clarke A.H., 1904. Notes on insects of Barbados, St. Vincent, the Grenadines and Grenada. Psyche 11:114-117.Corbet P.S., 1999. Dragonflies. Behavior and ecology of Odonata. Ithaca, Cornell University Press,829p.Diamond J. M. & May R. M. 1976. Island biogeography and the design of Natural reserves in:Theoretical Ecology, Principles and applications, May R. M. ed.,, 2nd edition. BlackwellScientific Publications 228-252Donnelly T.W., 1961. A new species of damselfly from St. Lucia, British West Indies (Odonata:Protoneuridae), The Florida Entomologist, 44(3):119-121.Donnelly T.W., 1970. The Odonata of Dominica British West Indies, Smithsonian Contr. Zool., 37:1-20.Donnelly T.W., 1984. A new species of Macrothemis from central America with notes on thedistinctionDonnelly T.W., 2000. Clé d’identification des Odonates de Guadeloupe, Dominique et Martinique. –Martinia, 16(3) : 111-121.Flint O.S., 1977. Probable origins of the West Indian Trichoptera and Odonata fauna, Proc. of the 2ndInt. Symp. On Trichoptera, Junk, the Hague : 215-223.Förster S., 2001. The dragonflies of Central America exclusive of Mexico and the West Indies. A guideto their identification. Second edition, Gunnar Rehfeldt, Wolfenbüttel, Allemagne,odonatological monographs 2, 142p.Garrison R.W. & von Ellenrieder N., 2006. Generic dignoses within a closely related group of genera:Brechmorhoga, Gynothemis, Macrothemis, and Scapanea (Odonata: Libellulidae). CanadianEntomologist 138 : 269-284.19

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