Lesser known Winged wonders- Dragonflies and Damselflies

Lesser known Winged wonders- Dragonflies and Damselflies

The Southwest monsoons will soon sweep across our parched landscapes draping the lands with carpets of greens and browns. An explosion of life forms will thus erupt bringing to life a myriad of lesser-known creatures including frogs, beetles, moths and their kind and will be a part of our urban lives as long as the Rain God blesses us with his showers.

We at Earthworm wish to welcome the Monsoons with Worm trails and talks on urban wildlife and eco campaigns through the rains and begin with Dragonflies and Damselflies- fabled creatures of the Insect world.

Dragonflies and Damselflies, the much-ignored ‘cousins’ of butterflies are as important as any other insects in our immediate surroundings and are indicators of a healthy environment. Their role as pest controllers in keeping in check flies, mosquitoes and smaller moths is vital in the ecological chain.

Brightly colored and intrinsically different they are a treat to watch and photograph but are seldom admired like butterflies. Threatened due to insecticides and loss of breeding water bodies many species that were once common in our neighborhoods have been lost locally and are now found in small patches. At Earthworm, we aim to create awareness and appreciation for these winged wonders amongst nature lovers as well as laypersons.

We begin with a talk and presentation on ‘Damselflies and Dragonflies’ by Mr. Parag Rangnekar, author of the widely popular field guide of Butterflies of Goa. Besides being an established birder (he is the state co-coordinator of the Goa bird Conservation network), Parag Rangnekar has recently catalogued the Damselflies and Dragonflies of Goa and has been working on the subject for over 5 years. A committed naturalist and wildlife photographer, Parag has been instrumental in popularizing the hobby of butterfly and Dragonfly watching in the state of Goa.

Date: - 23^rd May Sunday, 2010.

Time: - 5.30 pm to 7.00 pm.

Venue: - Earthworm Eco store, Green valley, Alto Porvorim Goa.

For details contact- earthwormgoa@gmail.com or call 08322410871.