Abstract

The Hindu Kush range represents Palearctic realm and encompasses biodiversity hotspots especially for Odonata, which is still unexplored due to vulnerable climatic conditions and unavoidable conflict situations at border. The current investigation documented the habitat-based diversity and impact of ecological factors on the distribution of Odonata complex in Hindu Kush range, under Dir Upper and Dir Lower Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Field surveys were conducted at 46 sites across diverse land types, including riparian, agricultural, springs, forests, subalpine and alpine pastures during the summer and autumn seasons of 2023-2024 on clearly sunny days between 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Adult specimens were collected using aerial nets and identified under stereoscope by running them through taxonomic keys and following the description of Fraser (1933, 1934, 1936), Zia (2010) and Chaudhry (2010). Ecological factors were recorded at each habitat using data loggers. The present study recorded a sum of 46 Odonata species comprising 35 species of Anisoptera and 11 species of Zygoptera. Among the surveyed habitats, riparian and agricultural land types exhibited the highest species richness, each supporting 36 species, followed by spring habitats with 27 species, forests with 15 species and subalpine pastures with five (5) species, however no species was recorded from alpine pastures due to prevailing low temperature and persistently harsh weather conditions. Orthetrum triangulare triangulare and Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum were recorded as the most abundant species of the study area. The current findings indicate that habitats and ecological factors strongly influence diversity, distribution and population dynamics of Odonata.