Discovery of Lestes Paloti Damselfly in Western Ghats

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A team of insect experts discovered a new species of spreadwing damselfly named Lestes paloti in the Western Ghats region of Kerala, with their study published in the International Journal of Odonatology.

This newly identified insect is a spreadwing damselfly that belongs to the Lestidae family under the Odonata order.
Researchers named the species after Dr. Muhamed Jafer Palot, a scientist at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Kozhikode, to honor his extensive research on Indian insects and wildlife documentation in the Western Ghats.

Researchers have documented the presence of this species across six districts in Kerala, which are Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, and Ernakulam.

Most related damselflies live near open water bodies, but Lestes paloti stays in scrub plants around village houses and laterite hillocks, often far away from visible open water.

This species changes its color according to the season, showing a brown shade during dry months and turning into a bright bluish color during the monsoon season.
Scientists confirmed it as a separate species by examining the male insect's reproductive structures under a microscope, proving it is different from similar species found in northeastern India.
The insect remained hidden from scientists for decades because of its shy nature and close visual resemblance to other known species.
This discovery corrects an old scientific mistake, proving that past records of Lestes nodalis in southern India were actually misidentified Lestes paloti insects.

Finding a new Lestes species in the Western Ghats after 97 years shows rich hidden insect life and increases Kerala's total odonate count to 192 species.
Because Lestes paloti lives on laterite hills and scrublands near human habitats, its discovery shows why we must protect open non-forest habitats and seasonal water bodies.