Dragonflies: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan Book

Dragonflies, the colorful creatures which can often be seen hovering above water, pre-date dinosaurs. Today, some 5,000 species have been described and many more await discovery and description. Their beautiful and distinctive colors make them valuable subjects for research on insect behavior, both for ecology and art; their larvae are aquatic, making them a good indicator of water quality; and because they are predators, they are particularly useful in the control of mosquitoes. However, most species of dragonflies live in the tropics and particularly in the rainforests. The rapid destruction of their habitat poses a direct threat to their survival, making their conservation urgent. This Action Plan takes a look at the threats facing dragonflies, proposes some solutions for their conservation and elaborates a strategy for its implementation.Read More