Survey Report March 9-30 2011

The Odonata of St Lucia (Lesser Antilles) Survey Report March 9-30 2011 Céline Poiron & François Meurgey L Herminier Natural History Society Contribution to odonatology # 2 May 2011

The Odonata of St Lucia (Lesser Antilles) Survey Report March 9-30 2011 Céline Poiron & François Meurgey Cover: Cul-de-Sac Flooded Forest at Castries L Herminier Natural History Society contribution to odonatology # 2- François Meurgey

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...4 MATERIAL AND METHODS...5 Localities surveyed...5 Comments on the list...7 ODONATA RECORDED FROM ST LUCIA...8 Comments on the list...8 RESULTS...9 SPECIES ACCOUNT...9 ZYGOPTERA...9 ANISOPTERA...12 DISCUSSION...17 CONSERVATION...18 AKNOWLEDGEMENTS...19 BIBLIOGRAPHY...19 DISTRIBUTION MAPS...Erreur! Signet non défini.

INTRODUCTION Studies on odonata of the Lesser Antilles have begun in 2000 in order to increase knowledge on species biology, ecology and biogeography. The L Herminier Natural History Society and the Nantes Museum of Natural History carried out several studies in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Dominica, St Vincent and Grenada since 2000 and a book on the Dragonflies of the Lesser Antilles is actually in progress. Recent data from the Lesser Antillean islands were greatly needed in order to understand the biogeography of the Lesser Antillean Dragonflies. Where the species did came from? What is exactly the dragonfly fauna composition? These questions remain to be solved. This is why an intensive survey of St Lucia was carried out from March 9th to March 30th 2011. This study was financed by both the L Herminier Natural History Society (LHNHS). Our primary aim was to update the checklist of species, since only two papers are known to us concerning the dragonfly fauna of the island (Klots, 1932; Sibley, 2009). Fred Sibley spent few days in St Lucia where he collected 21 species. Our major aim was to point out the distribution of species to establish distribution maps, in a way to obtain information on the conservation status of species. Generally speaking, a checklist of species must be considered as a tool for conservation matters. Data gathered on both ecology and biology on the field are intended to allow us to estimate the conservation status of species and their habitats, and then to apply the correct conservatory management.

MATERIAL AND METHODS The Island was prospected during three weeks (march 9 to March 29) in a way to survey the most of aquatic habitats. The most of adults were caught with an aerial net. Exuviae were collected along with adult stage. Dragonflies larvae lives under water and after several numerous molts, reach metamorphosis. Emergence take place out of water and remains the skin of the larva, called exuvia. Collecting exuviae (Fig.1) provides a good idea about odonate breeding habitats. For each species a minimum of two pairs were caught, to constitute a reference collection in the NMNH and to try to answer taxonomic problems concerning neotropical species. Identification of species was first realized on the field, and in France, specimens were closely checked and named with the help of the NMNH collection and specialized books. Stations were first located on a map, and chosen after their accessibility and their repartition on the Island. The objective was to explore the island the most homogeneously as possible. We decided to separate St Lucia in three parts (north, south, center) and to spend one week by part. Localities cited by Fred Sibley were not visited. We considered that the data were recent and we preferred to conduct our researches in unknown sites. Geographical data were completed with a GARMIN GPS (GPSMAP 60 CSx ). A protocol was developed to describe similarly the habitats of each station : lentic or lotic aquatic habitat, depth, length, width, vegetation and we noted the number and the sex of species present. To describe more precisely aquatic habitats we also collected some plants with Mr. Leroy St Louis's permit. The herbarium was described at the museum. In order to maximize the chance to see the totality of species living in the surveyed localities we spend between 30 minutes to one hour by station. Projection datum is UTM zone 20N/WGS84. We surveyed 76 stations, distributed as follows : Localities surveyed Exuviae of Orthemis macrothemis (C.POIRON, 2011). Vieux-Fort parish X UTM Y UTM SLU001 Vieux-Fort Police divisional headquarters, ditch 721771.3432 1518805.04 SLU002 Hewanorra airport, ditch near the pists 722127.0639 1519591.94 SLU003 Pointe des sables, ditch 722687.4307 1519425.19 SLU004 Anse de Sables, river mouth 722277.1778 1518691.3 SLU005 Builder's choice, canal 722088.3503 1518844.62 SLU006 Charlery's inn, swamped canal 721293.3446 1519038.91 SLU007 Jetty 1, littoral trail, xerophile area 720527.9287 1518720.72 SLU008 Jetty 2, temporary pond near a quarry 720418.1667 1518693.97 SLU020 Grace, river 719129.1189 1523819.69 SLU021 Warwick, affluent of the river Piaye 718070.9338 1527254.23 SLU022 Daban, trail in banana plantation 718351.3861 1527555.38

SLU023 Stade George Odlum stadium, pond 722541.691 1521500.75 SLU027 Rivière de Vieux-Fort 1, river 719691.8462 1519298.33 SLU028 Rivière de Vieux-Fort 2, swamp and pond 719588.3509 1519384.15 SLU045 Black Bay River 718012.2031 1520283.88 Micoud Parish SLU009 Ravine Bethel (Anse Ger) 726320.6039 1525648.3 SLU010 Troumasse Estate 1, lake 726800.7125 1527642.67 SLU011 Troumasse Estate 2, shaded pond 726889.6592 1527571.52 SLU012 Ravine Conore, stream 726330.2545 1528055.41 SLU013 Planard, ditch 725006.9416 1527464.73 SLU014 Ravine Victorine, stream 724976.093 1527488.44 SLU015 Ravine Viancelle, stream 719258.5446 1528559 SLU016 Canelles River 1, river 722213.3378 1526167.99 SLU017 Canelles River 2, stream under the road 722036.1454 1526231.03 SLU018 Calypso 1, stream 719118.0975 1529821.22 SLU019 Calypso 2, river 719142.8285 1529880.45 SLU059 Mahaut 1, open area at the top of a hill 723385.5972 1530494.02 SLU060 Mahaut 2, stream 723020.7751 1530372.83 SLU061 Mahaut 3, trail 722902.5776 1530703.81 SLU062 Volet Estate, river 726442.7412 1529415.76 Gros-Islet Parish SLU064 Gros Islet, puddle 720883.8933 1558736.54 SLU065 Cas en Bas Estate, stream 722701.1081 1557833.88 SLU066 Trims Riding Stables, pond 722430.2894 1557715.3 SLU067 La Feuillet, stream 721914.7025 1555316.69 SLU068 Monchy 1, stream 723359.4667 1554823.95 SLU071 Grande Rivière 1, river 720539.5188 1553395.74 SLU072 Grande Rivière 2, stream 721841.232 1551966.53 Laborie Parish SLU024 Mont Lezard estate 1, dry pond 713412.7317 1523829.3 SLU025 Mont Lezard estate 2, pond in cultures 713398.1904 1523843.94 SLU026 Gayabois 714587.8319 1524949.27 Dauphin Parish SLU029 Ravine Marquis River, affluent of Marquis river 725313.0893 1551771.94 SLU030 Marquis River, river 725446.0309 1551808.16 SLU031 Boguis, ravine of Marquis River 725229.3075 1550245.81 SLU069 La Borne, stream 723940.1357 1553904.97 SLU070 Monchy 2, river 723344.0875 1554729.74 SLU074 Vergallier river 724671.0553 1549012.47 Dennery Parish SLU032 Bazile, stream 725088.9844 1538736.91 SLU033 Deux-Branches1, puddles 723215.4553 1537042.15 SLU034 Deux-Branches2, stream 723143.0198 1537083.94 SLU035 Deux-Branches3, Dennery River 722812.6545 1537365.13 SLU054 Fond d'or River 1, river 727827.3451 1540806.55 SLU055 Fond d'or River 2, pond near the river 727652.7478 1540788.41 SLU056 Grande Ravine 1, seeps 722174.512 1542405.98 SLU057 Grande Ravine 2, puddles 723216.8157 1542284.07 Praslin Parish

SLU058 L'Orangerie, trail 726006.0875 1530915.18 SLU063 Praslin Bay, mangrove 727357.308 1535274.46 Castries Parish SLU036 Ravine Poisson, Minvielle, stream 719124.5534 1540730.87 SLU037 Bexon, swamp 718059.4696 1546286.35 SLU073 La Fitte, stream 720002.2725 1548455.41 SLU075 Cul de Sac River, flooded forest 715218.7841 1546966.86 SLU076 Cul de Sac River, ponds 715933.6185 1546775.53 Anse-La-Raye Parish SLU038 Millet 1, stream 716050.2262 1539126.06 SLU039 Millet 2, swamp 716112.4370 1539012.23 SLU040 Millet 3, stream 716428.8518 1539306.3 SLU041 Dame de traversay, little affluent of Millet river 716971.4094 1540341.88 SLU042 Grande Riviere, stream 712189.0641 1542659.01 SLU043 Mouth of Petite Rivière 711582.4835 1542165.25 SLU053 Canaries River 709362.9567 1537772.38 Soufriere Parish SLU044 Soufrière, beach 709703.5230 1532666.45 SLU046 Fond St-Jacques 1, river 713194.3051 1530446.78 SLU047 Fond St-Jacques 2, basin resulting from the collapse of a stream 714229.2913 1530601.03 SLU048 Malgrétoute, mouth of stream, near the beach 709437.1055 1531074.51 SLU049 Ravine Claire, stream 713209.9909 1531605.15 SLU050 Cresslands, pond 711635.5207 1532416.62 SLU051 Ravine Torail, stream 711723.4823 1532457.91 SLU052 Ravine Duval, stream 710572.5537 1536585.28 Comments on the list The localities distributional map show that the island was relatively well prospected. The majority of aquatic habitats were surveyed : river (SLU046, SLU053 ), mangrove (SLU063), swamps ( SLU039,SLU037 ), ravine (SLU051,SLU052 ), lake (SLU010), pond (SLU023, SLU024, SLU025 ), forest (SLU075, ). Some dragonflies were found in puddles, ditches, littoral trails, drain, canal which are anthropic habitats.

ODONATA RECORDED FROM ST LUCIA 21 species of Odonata were recorded from St Lucia during this study, as follows. Species observed by Sibley (2009) are in brackets. New island records are in bold. ZYGOPTERA Family Lestidae Lestes forficula Rambur, 1842 Lestes spumarius Hagen in Selys, 1862 Lestes tenuatus Rambur, 1842 Family Protoneuridae Protoneura ailsa Donnelly, 1961 Family Coenagrionidae Enallagma coecum (Hagen, 1861) Ischnura ramburii (Selys, 1850) Telebasis corallina (Selys, 1876) ANISOPTERA Family Aeshnidae Gynacantha nervosa Rambur, 1842 Triacanthagyna caribbea (Williamson, 1923) [Triacanthagyna trifida (Rambur, 1842)] Family Libellulidae [Brachymesia furcata (Hagen, 1861)] Brachymesia herbida (Gundlach, 1889) Brechmorhoga archboldi (Donnelly, 1970) Dythemis sterilis Hagen, 1861 Erythemis vesiculosa (Fabricius, 1775) Erythrodiplax umbrata (Linné, 1758) Miathyria marcella (Selys, 1856) Micrathyria aequalis (Hagen, 1861) Micrathyria didyma (Sélys, 1857) Orthemis macrostigma (Rambur, 1872) Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) Tholymis citrina (Hagen, 1861) Tramea abdominalis (Rambur, 1842) Tramea calverti Muttkowski, 1910 [Tramea insularis Hagen, 1861] Comments on the list On the 21 species mentioned by Sibley (20089), two weren t collected during this study. We failed to find Triacanthagyna trifida but we observed several T. caribbea in a single location. Brachymesia furcata was mentioned by Sibley (2009) from the Golf Course at Cap Estate but we didn t survey this location and Tramea insularis is totally absent in the surveyed stations. On the other hand, 5 species are reported for the first time from St Lucia : Lestes spumarius, Triacanthagyna caribbea (common in Guadeloupe and Martinique), Brechmorhoga archboldi (previously known only from Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique and Grenada), Miathyria marcella (widespread in the Neotropics) and Tramea calverti which is a vagrant species from Central and South America. If some of these species was expected (Miathyria marcella, Tramea calverti), the remaining three are more interesting. The checklist of species number actually 25 species.

RESULTS SPECIES ACCOUNT ZYGOPTERA During this study we observed, captured and identified 7 species belonging to three families and to 5 genera. Actually Zygopterans are represented in the Lesser Antilles by 10 species, St Lucia host 60% of the species of which one is an endemic species at regional scale, being present only in Dominica, Martinique and St Lucia (Protoneura ailsa). Family Lestidae Three species have been recorded during this survey. St Lucia is actually the single island which host the three West Indian species of this genus. Lestes forficula Rambur, 1842 Rainpool Spreadwing Distribution: SLU025, SLU066. This species is widespread throughout the West Indies, and often abundant in ponds, lakes in agricultural areas. Lack of ponds in St Lucia can explain the paucity of this taxa. Sibley (2009) report this species from only two localities in the north of the island ; Castries (2 males) and Cap Estate (4 males, 1 female). Lestes tenuatus (Rambur, 1842) Blue-striped Spreadwing Distribution: SLU063 Uncommon in the Lesser Antilles. Contrary to L. forficula, Lestes tenuatus is found mainly in shaded areas, in woody edges, forested habitats such as forest ponds and mangrove swamps. We found a single male at Praslin Bay, in a heavily disturbed mangrove swamp. Sibley (2009) report this species from only one locality, north of Fond D Or River near Micoud. 9

Lestes spumarius Hagen in Selys, 1862 Antillean Spreadwing Distribution: SLU075 This is the first record for this species on St Lucia, and the single recent record for the Lesser Antilles, being known only from the Greater Antilles. In spite of intensive researches, we failed to find other specimens. It appears that this species is rare, but deserve special attention due to its habitat. Family Protoneuridae Only two species of this family occurs in the Lesser Antilles. One is endemic from Dominica, Martinique and St Lucia and the other is restricted to Guadeloupe. Protoneura ailsa Donnelly, 1961 Ailsa s Threadtail Distribution: SLU014, SLU015, SLU018, SLU018, SLU019, SLU020, SLU021, SLU029, SLU031, SLU034, SLU035, SLU038, SLU040, SLU042, SLU046, SLU049, SLU052, SLU060, SLU073, SLU074 Regional endemic. This species, described from St Lucia is the only species of its genus in St Lucia. Although present in Dominica and Martinique, P. ailsa appear to be more abundant and widely distributed on St Lucia than in other two islands. The distribution of this species show that the most of existing populations are not concerned by natural reserves areas. Sibley (2009) mention P. ailsa from 4 stations (Soufrière, Micoud, Millet). We recorded this species from 20 localities distributed throughout the island (26%). Family Coenagrionidae Enallagma coecum (Hagen, 1861) Antillean Bluet Distribution: SLU015,SLU017,SLU018,SLU019,SLU021,SLU035,SLU046, SLU047,SLU049,SLU060 As for neighboring Martinique, E. coecum seems to be common and widely distributed in St Lucia, being present from the sea level up to 150 ft. This species was found in 9 of the 76 localities surveyed (12%). In Guadeloupe, Dominica and Martinique, this species inhabits swamps, bogs, springs generally highly vegetated. At the reverse, it frequents in St Lucia lotic habitats such as montane streams and rivers, even in forest and can be found in shaded parts of small tributaries in forest. 10

Ischnura ramburii (Selys, 1850) Rambur s Forktail Distribution: SLU001,SLU002,SLU003,SLU004,SLU005,SLU006,SLU010, SLU011SLU012,SLU014,SLU016,SLU023,SLU025,SLU026, SLU027,SLU028,SLU029,SLU031,SLU037,SLU042,SLU043, SLU045, SLU053,SLU054,SLU062,SLU063,SLU068,SLU070, SLU071, SLU074,SLU075 Common and widespread throughout the West Indies. I. ramburii was found on 31 of the 76 surveyed localities (41%). Generally abundant, populations reach often 100 individuals. This species frequent lentic habitats such as ponds, lakes but can also be found on slow flowing montane rivers. Telebasis corallina (Selys, 1876) Coral Firetail Distribution: SLU017, SLU025, SLU026, SLU066 This species is scarcely distributed on St Lucia, being commonest and often abundant in Martinique, Dominica and Guadeloupe, and absent from the islands south of St Lucia. We found T. corallina in 4 of the 76 surveyed localities (0,50%). Generally, this species frequent lentic habitats, heavily covered with dense vegetation such as Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) or Water Hiacynth (Eicchornia crassipes). The lack of such habitats on St Lucia can explain the rarity of this species. It appears that the island constitute the southernmost West Indian locality for this species. This species have been already mentioned by Sibley (2009) at Cap Estate (Golf Course) and Vieux-Fort. 11

ANISOPTERA During this study we observed, captured and identified 15 species belonging to 2 families and 13 genera. Actually Anisopterans are represented in the Lesser Antilles by 35 species, St Lucia host 43% of them, mainly in the family Libellulidae which contain highly vagrant species. Family Aeshnidae Three species, all nocturnal, have been recorded from St Lucia of which one was not observed during this survey (Triacanthagyna trifida). We failed to find Anax junius, which is a common species in Martinique and Guadeloupe. Several other species, such as Anax concolor, Rhionaeschna psilus, Coryphaeshna anexa or Triacanthagyna septima seems to be absent from the island, being only known from islands north of St Lucia. Species of this family deserve more attention and need further researches. Gynacantha nervosa Rambur, 1842 Twilight Darner Distribution: SLU029, SLU058 Gynacantha nervosa is a nocturnal species appearing generally just after sunset. This species could be more widely distributed on the island but need to be more intensively searched. Gynacantha nervosa was previously mentioned by Sibley (2009) near Micoud. Triacanthagyna caribbea Williamson, 1923 Caribbean Darner Distribution: SLU009, SLU020, SLU075 Recorded for the first time from St Lucia, being known from Guadeloupe and Martinique. This species is nocturnal and can be very common and often abundant in some locations. Fred Sibley in his 2009 paper mention Triacanthagyna trifida from several localities. We failed to find this species 12

Family Libellulidae This family is undoubtedly the most important in the West Indies. 12 species have been previously mentioned by Sibley (2009) of which 2 were not observed during this study. We surveyed 13 species from which 3 constitute new island records. Undoubtedly, several other species could be recorded from St Lucia during the next year, such as Pantala hymenaea, Tramea basilaris (an Afrotropical species appearing irregularly in the New World). Brachymesia herbida (Gundlach, 1889) Tawny Pennant Distribution: SLU004, SLU005, SLU006, SLU016, SLU023, SLU027, SLU043, SLU045, SLU062, SLU070, SLU074, Common in lowlands and dry areas, especially in the southern part of St Lucia. This species frequent generally ponds and lakes, but can also be found in slow flowing rivers, even polluted. This species was recorded from 11 locations (14%). Brechmorhoga archboldi (Donnelly, 1970) Archbold s Skimmer Distribution: SLU059 Recorded for the first time from St Lucia, being previously known from Guadeloupe, Dominica and Martinique. Rare, a single female collected at the top of a hill near Dennery, an other individual missed. This species is a Lesser Antillean endemic which lives in fast flowing montane rivers, often covered with canopy. This species needs further studies in a way to pint out its distribution and to find larval habitats. Dythemis sterilis Hagen, 1861 Brown Setwing Distribution: SLU014, SLU015, SLU016, SLU019, SLU020, SLU021, SLU022, SLU029, SLU032, SLU034, SLU035, SLU036, SLU038, SLU040, SLU045, SLU046, SLU047, SLU049, SLU052, SLU060, SLU061, SLU067, SLU068, SLU069, SLU070, SLU073, SLU074 This species was recorded by Sibley but misidentified as Dythemis multipunctata which is endemic from St Vincent. Although slightly different in color pattern, specimens from St Lucia belongs to D. sterilis. Common and often abundant, D. sterilis frequents fast flowing water such as rivers and streams, generally up to 100 meters altitude. 13

Erythemis vesiculosa (Fabricius, 1775) Great Pondhawk Erythrodiplax umbrata (Linné, 1758) Band-winged Dragonlet Distribution: SLU002, SLU005, SLU012, SLU014, SLU016, SLU020, SLU027, SLU028, SLU043, SLU045, SLU046, SLU049, SLU054, SLU055, SLU070, SLU074, SLU076 Widespread in the West Indies, E. vesiculosa is one of the commonest species. Generally this species lives in standing water such as ponds, lakes in lowlands and we were surprised to observe this species in open, slow flowing rivers and streams. Distribution: SLU002, SLU003, SLU015, SLU016, SLU020, SLU023, SLU025, SLU028, SLU033, SLU037, SLU039, SLU043, SLU045, SLU050, SLU052, SLU053, SLU055, SLU059, SLU061, SLU063, SLU065, SLU066, SLU068, SLU074, SLU076 Common and abundant, widespread in the West Indies. Erythrodiplax umbrata lives in standing water generally in seepages, ditches or ponds. Populations can be very important reaching frequently up to 100 individuals. It is important to notice that this species do not breeds in open water, but always at the edges of aquatic habitats, in the mud, bogs and springs. This is why it is very important to manage and conserve the neighbourhoods of standing water habitats. Miathyria marcella (Selys, 1856) Hiacynth Glider Distribution: SLU026 Recorded for the first time from St Lucia. Rare to uncommon in the West Indies, typically a lacustrine species. Larvae are strongly associated with floating mats of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) or Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and the species has spread into the West Indies with the spread of these plants. Populations in densely vegetated habitats can be very important, reaching often 100-200 individuals. The eradication of the Water Lettuce in some areas can have an impact on the populations of this species. 14

Micrathyria aequalis (Hagen, 1861) Spot-tailed Dasher Distribution : SLU004, SLU005, SLU010, SLU012, SLU014, SLU016, SLU025, SLU026, SLU027, SLU028, SLU037, SLU043, SLU045, SLU054, SLU066, SLU070, SLU071, SLU074, SLU076 Common, abundant and widely distributed throughout the West Indies. This species lives in standing water habitats such as ponds in agricultural areas. However, we observed important populations in open, slow flowing rivers in St Lucia. Micrathyria didyma (Selys, 1857) Three-striped Dasher Distribution: SLU004 Uncommon in the Lesser Antilles. This species frequents flooded forests and forested swamps in shaded areas. This is one of the very few species that reproduce in this type of habitat. Orthemis macrostigma (Rambur, 1872) Antillean Skimmer Distribution: SLU001, SLU002, SLU003, SLU004, SLU005, SLU008, SLU011, SLU012, SLU013, SLU016, SLU020, SLU021, SLU022, SLU024, SLU025, SLU026, SLU028, SLU030, SLU033, SLU034, SLU035, SLU037, SLU038, SLU039, SLU041, SLU045, SLU046, SLU047, SLU048, SLU049, SLU050, SLU057, SLU059, SLU061, SLU063, SLU064, SLU065, SLU066, SLU067, SLU068, SLU070, SLU073, SLU074, SLU076 Very common in the Lesser Antilles. O. macrostigma lives in standing water habitats and prefer cattle ponds and also ditches. It virtually can breed in every type of standing water habitat. Adults can be observed far away from water in terrestrial environment; trails, pastures or beaches. This species was recorded on 44 of the 76 locations surveyed (57%, n=76). 15

Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) Wandering Glider Distribution: SLU003, SLU007, SLU016, SLU027, SLU028, SLU037, SLU039, SLU043, SLU047, SLU054, SLU059, SLU064, SLU068, SLU076 A cosmopolitan species that can breed in virtually every type of standing water habitat available. Larva can grow within three weeks and can support temporary dryness. Tholymis citrina (Hagen, 1861) Evening Skimmer Distribution: SLU011, SLU044 Nocturnal species generally uncommon, but may be abundant in some localities. Only two individuals seen during this survey. Tholymis citrina lives in standing water habitats such as forested ponds or ditches. Tramea abdominalis (Rambur, 1842) Vermillion Saddlebags Distribution: SLU016 SLU025 SLU026 SLU037 SLU039 SLU045 SLU063 SLU066 SLU070 SLU071 SLU074 SLU075 Highly common species throughout the West Indies. Very common and often abundant. Not really common in St Lucia because of the lack of suitable habitats, such as cattle ponds and lakes. Tramea calverti Muttkowski, 1910 Calvert s Saddlebags Distribution: SLU043 Recorded for the first time from St Lucia. Tramea calverti is a highly vagrant species distributed in Central and South America, reaching the West Indies irregularly. This species frequent standing water habitats and prefer swamps in open land or seepages and sea shore. 16

DISCUSSION The dragonfly fauna of the Lesser Antilles actually numbers 48 valid species (Meurgey & Poiron, in prep). There are 38 species in Guadeloupe (Meurgey, 2006b), 30 in Martinique (Meurgey, 2005) which both are the richest islands. Species richness decrease to the south with only 7 species in St Vincent (Meurgey, 2010) and 19 in Grenada (Meurgey, 2009). Saint Lucia appear as a medium rich island, and the paucity of species could be due to 1) the lack of standing water habitats (95% of odonata reproduce in standing water), and 2) the lack of studies, with only two surveys known to us. Among surveyed stations, 62% belongs to lotic habitats and 30% to lentic habitats. The remaining pertain to specific habitats : trail, grassland, ditch The number of species in Martinique, which is quite equal to those of St Lucia, is due to a high level of disturbances, pollutions and urbanization. We think that the fauna of St Lucia could reach 30-35 species. Hurricane Tomas passed by the Island in November 2010. He especially opened many forested areas. We observed that several streams and rivers are now open, without canopy and colonized by vagrant species such as Pantala flavescens, Orthemis macrostigma or Tramea abdominalis. We also saw trees down across rivers creating microhabitats and promoting the development of some species such as Protoneura ailsa. This information must be verify with further surveys before and after the passage of an hurricane. It is difficult to have an idea of what species could be present in these habitats before Tomas. As for other islands, the odonate fauna of St Lucia is dominated by wide ranging species. Two of them, Ischnura ramburii and Orthemis macrostigma are the commonest species in a great variety of habitat. The most interesting thing is that these two common species are followed by Lesser Antillean endemics (Protoneura ailsa and Dythemis sterilis), which have been recorded from 20 (26%) and 27 (36%) localities respectively. 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Ischnura ramburii Protoneura ailsa Enallagma coecum Telebasis corallina Lestes spumarius Lestes tenuatus Fig. 1. Frequency per species (number of stations, n=76) - Zygoptera 17

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Orthemis macrostigma Dythemis sterilis Erythrodiplax umbrata Micrathyria aequalis Erythemis vesiculosa Pantala flavescens Tramea abdominalis Brachymesia herbida Tholymis citrina Miathyria marcella Micrathyria didyma Tramea calverti CONSERVATION Species and protected areas The map shows the distribution of the regional endemic Protoneura ailsa (light blue dots) depending on the protected areas. Note that the most of surveyed populations were found outside these areas. This could be explain by the inaccessibility of the central forest reserve which could, or not, harbor this species. Among the 20 stations surveyed on the island, 9 are situated within protected areas, and only 4 of them harbour populations of P. ailsa. Generally speaking, the most of odonates species in St Lucia, as for other Lesser Antillean islands, lives in standing water habitats. We strongly suggest to survey and manage ponds, lakes and flooded forests to preserve the odonate biodiversity. 18

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to thank warmly Rebecca Rocks (Forestry Department) who kindly provided us with island maps and GIS, Alwin Dornelly (Forestry Department) who provided us with collecting permit and Saint Louis (Plant Quarantine Unit Vieux-Fort) for providing us with export permit. Thanks to Pierre and Claudine Guezennec for the use of their photos. We also thank Fred Sibley (New York, USA) for is previous work on the odonate fauna of St Lucia and for his infos. BIBLIOGRAPHY Barbour T., 1914. A contribution to the Zoogeography of the West Indies with especial reference to Amphibians and Reptiles, Cambridge, USA. Blondel J., 1995. Biogéographie : Approche écologique et évolutive. Ed. Masson, Paris, 297 p. Clarke A.H., 1904. Notes on insects of Barbados, St. Vincent, the Grenadines and Grenada. Psyche 11: 114-117. Corbet P.S., 1999. Dragonflies. Behavior and ecology of Odonata. Ithaca, Cornell University Press, 829p. Diamond J. M. & May R. M. 1976. Island biogeography and the design of Natural reserves in: Theoretical Ecology, Principles and applications, May R. M. ed.,, 2nd edition. Blackwell Scientific Publications 228-252 Donnelly T.W., 1961. A new species of damselfly from St. Lucia, British West Indies (Odonata: Protoneuridae), The Florida Entomologist, 44(3):119-121. Donnelly T.W., 1970. The Odonata of Dominica British West Indies, Smithsonian Contr. Zool., 37:1-20. Donnelly T.W., 1984. A new species of Macrothemis from central America with notes on the distinction Donnelly T.W., 2000. Clé d identification des Odonates de Guadeloupe, Dominique et Martinique. Martinia, 16(3) : 111-121. Flint O.S., 1977. Probable origins of the West Indian Trichoptera and Odonata fauna, Proc. of the 2nd Int. Symp. On Trichoptera, Junk, the Hague : 215-223. Förster S., 2001. The dragonflies of Central America exclusive of Mexico and the West Indies. A guide to their identification. Second edition, Gunnar Rehfeldt, Wolfenbüttel, Allemagne, odonatological monographs 2, 142p. Garrison R.W. & von Ellenrieder N., 2006. Generic dignoses within a closely related group of genera: Brechmorhoga, Gynothemis, Macrothemis, and Scapanea (Odonata: Libellulidae). Canadian Entomologist 138 : 269-284. 19

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