A note on dragonfly behaviour during the 1995 total solar eclipse near Calcutta, India

Dum Dum Park, a residential area of ca 35 ha in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, with ponds, canals and gardens, was selected for observations of dragonfly behaviour during the almost total solar eclipse (99.6°) of 24 October 1995. It started at 07.32 h and reached its peak at 08.48 h. The recorded temperatures (in °C) were as follows: at 06.00 h (23.6°), 06,30 h (25.5°), 07.00 h (26.00°), 07.30 h (27.00°), 08.20 h (25.00°), 08.40 h (24.00°), 08.48 h (23.00°) and at 09.00 h (29.00°). The following species were at the site: Agriocnemis pygmaea, Ceriagrion coromandelianum, Ischnura senegalensis, Pseudagrion microcephalum, Brachythemis contaminata, Crocothemis servilia and Diplacodes trivialis. For a complete list of species known from that locality, cf. T.R. MITRA (1994, Ree. zoo/. Sum. India (Occ. Pap.) 166: 1-40).