Vol. 2, Issue 3, Part J (2016)

Abstract
The present study gives an overview of data on the habitat diversity of odonate larvae occurring in a permanent pond Melpalai in Melpuram, Kanyakumari District (Tamil Nadu), India, during August 2013- July 2014. The survey of the permanent pond Melpalai revealed the occurrence of 21 species of Odonata. The family Libellulidae belonging to the sub order Anisoptera and order Odonata dominated all the other families, while the family Coenagrionidae, sub order Zygoptera and order Odonata occupied the second position. The physicochemical parameters (temperature 22-31.5 T oC; pH 6.8-7.13; Total dissolved solids 110-143 ppm; Dissolved oxygen 4.1- 5.1 ml/l; Electric conductivity 58-105) of this pond were more or less ideal for the abundance and distribution of odonate larvae. Various diversity indices were calculated for premonsoon, monsoon and post monsoon seasons and the results indicated that maximum diversity and distribution were occurred during the monsoon season followed by the postmonsoon season and minimum diversity was recorded during the premonsoon season