Protosticta sooryaprakashi

Introduction: Protosticta sooryaprakashi is a species of damselfly associated with India's biodiversity, making it relevant to questions on species discovery, taxonomy and habitat conservation.

Key pointers

  • Taxonomic group: Order Odonata, which includes dragonflies and damselflies.

  • Biological distinction: Damselflies generally hold their wings folded along or above the body when resting, whereas most dragonflies rest with their wings spread.

  • Ecological importance: Odonates are predators of smaller insects and can serve as indicators of freshwater and habitat conditions.

  • Habitat considerations: Many damselflies depend on suitable forest streams and humid microhabitats for their life cycle.

  • Conservation relevance: Habitat degradation, stream pollution and forest loss can threaten species with restricted distributions.

  • Scientific significance: Newly described or geographically restricted species can reveal previously underdocumented biodiversity.

UPSC focus: Be careful not to confuse damselflies with butterflies or aquatic insect larvae generally. The precise discovery locality, year of description and conservation status should be verified from the original taxonomic publication before memorising them.