Wayanad: Many rare varieties of dragonflies and damselflies are spotted in Wayanad and as it adds vibrance to the verdure, nature lovers are wooed. One of the dragonfly, locally known as 'Theekaruppan thumbi', which used to be rarely spotted in the forests of Kerala, has been found in the fields of Wayanad. Another new variety, called 'Chathuppuviri chirakan' or 'Soochi thumbi', has also been spotted in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. It is the 175th variety of dragonflies found in the state.
P K Muneer, a member of Ferns Nature Conservation Society in Wayanad, spotted the 'Chathuppu virichirakan' dragonfly here. The species with the scientific name Indolestes Pulcherrimus was spotted in Sulthan Battery forest range of Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary. Earlier, the dragonfly of this variety was spotted at Kodagu region in Karnataka.
'Theekaruppan thumbi' variety is found only in the Western Ghats region. The males are red and black in colour while the females are light yellow in colour with black stripes. These dragonflies are rarely spotted in the marshlands or swamps in the wilds. Now, they have been spotted at the farm fields near the Tholpetty forest area.
