​New Damselfly Species Lestes paloti Discovered in the Western Ghats

In July 2026, researchers discovered a new species of spreadwing damselfly, Lestes paloti, from the Western Ghats in Kerala, marking a significant addition to India's odonate diversity.

  • Lestes paloti is the first new species of the genus Lestes described from India since 1987.
  • The species is named in honour of Muhamed Jafer Palot, a scientist with the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), for his contributions to Indian odonatology and biodiversity research.
  • The species has been recorded from Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, and Ernakulam districts of Kerala.
  • Unlike many related species, it inhabits scrub vegetation around homesteads and laterite hillocks, often away from open ....

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