In small groups of three or four people, about 10 volunteers and college students, led by entomologists and education officials, took a walk, walking more than 3 kilometers in the Yamuna Biodiversity Park on Friday. Although the routine was to check for dragonflies and damselflies every year, for budding naturalists this was a refreshing change from the norm.
Wearing full-sleeved clothes, hats, and shoes, as instructed by the officials of this biological reserve, the groups carefully wandered the area, their eyes sharp to see which species. Others had cameras and pens ready to document their findings.
Clear skies on the final day provided a much-needed backdrop for dragonfly sightings, a welcome change from the overcast conditions of the previous two days of the survey.
“Dragonflies and damselflies are the things that control nature. During the monsoons, we find a large number of their species because it is the perfect time for them to eat mosquitoes,” said Mohammad Faisal, an entomologist at the biological park.
Students from Hansraj College, Zakir Husain College, and IGNOU, among others, volunteered for the study. Young explorers are delighted to see a variety of species, including Red Marsh Trotter, Pied Paddy Skimmer, Common Bluetail, and Golden Dartlet, among others.
However, it wasn’t just insects. The group passed by to discuss medicinals or pause when they saw a peacock or a mynah, or anything new, away from the concrete jungle. “I never expected such a part of the city in the north to be so rich in plant diversity… for me, plants were a big interest. Even when dragonflies were found on plant leaves, I really enjoyed photographing them,” said Deepika Gehlot, a political science student at Zakir Husain College.
“Learning about dragonflies, and observing them was a new experience. I strongly feel that it is important to be aware of small things like insects. A high number of dragonflies and damselflies is an indication of a healthy ecosystem,” added the student volunteer.
Dragonflies and damselflies were seen flying in the herb garden, butterfly sanctuary, grasslands and shallow wetlands.
To get a closer look at these fragile animals, the students stood still in the grassy areas, taking care not to disturb them. But the peace was put to the test when they suddenly encountered a nilgai while on the road on Friday afternoon. The guides warned the volunteers against thinking that there are only nocturnal animals in the forest.
“Look at the pattern and identify… look, the belly is big, it’s the Red Marsh Trotter,” commented Preeti Vohra, an environmental education officer at the Yamuna Biodiversity Park. A group of three college students closed in to observe, all with survey proforma sheets to record the species’ name and various activities – laying eggs, mating, landing, flying, etc. Other parameters recorded include temperature, study time, weather conditions, and expressions.
Holding a camera, Mohan Singh, chief entomologist at the Biodiversity Park explained, “We spend a lot of time, especially near the ponds here, because egg laying takes place and we can see the wasps. Mosquitoes live in water for six months, feeding on mosquito eggs while adult dragonflies feed on mosquitoes.”
The students breathed a sigh of relief as one of them spotted a blue-tailed dragonfly – the largest of its kind, which ended up waiting for hours by the ponds.
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