Dragonflies and Damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of the Republic of the Marshall Islands

A survey of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) in the Republic of the Marshall Islands identified seven species, including two damselflies (Tanymecosticta sp. and Ischnura aurora) and five true dragonflies (Anax guttatus, Diplacodes bipunctata, Pantala flavescens, Tholymis tillarga, and Tramea transmarina). The study confirms breeding for six species, widely distributed in the Pacific, while noting that the record of Pantala flavescens as a pioneer species on Bikini Atoll after nuclear testing requires verification. The research highlights the limited odonate fauna due to small island size, habitat constraints, and isolation, suggesting few additional species are likely to be discovered despite gaps in sampling across the archipelago.

Buden, D. W. (2018). Dragonflies and Damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Pacific Science, 72(3), 373–387. https://doi.org/10.2984/72.3.8