An introduction to the Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies) of the United Arab Emirates with Binish Roobas

About the Talk:

Dragonflies and damselflies comprise the most ancient, beautiful and fascinating flying insects. They are freshwater, rapid-flying insects under the order Odonata, a term that arises from the Greek word for ‘teeth.’

More than 5000 species of dragonflies and damselflies are known in the world so far, mostly in the tropics. Some species have worldwide distribution, while others are endemic or restricted to certain specific habitats. The Arabian Peninsula boasts 64 species of dragonflies and damselflies. The United Arab Emirates hosts about 28 species, and neighbouring Oman about 42 species.

For their lifecycles, dragonflies and damselflies depend on freshwater bodies, a habitat that is not very common in a desert environment. Wadis are important natural habitats, and a good variety of different Odonata can be found in artificial ponds and lakes.

Binish Roobas has studied butterflies, spiders and dragonflies in the UAE extensively. Binish’s talk will be an introduction to the Odonata of the UAE. He will cover different families and their recorded species and how to identify them,  and will offer insights into their ecology.

About The Speaker: Binish Roobas took his degree in Zoology at the University of Kerala, where he was a naturalist guide. During his time in the UAE, he has worked as a zoologist and supervisor at the butterfly House in Sharjah. He has also pursued his interests as a naturalist and photographer, sharing his efforts through regular short reports and photographs in the monthly newsletter of the Dubai Natural History Group (Gazelle), longer papers in the periodic journal of the Emirates Natural History Group, Abu Dhabi (Tribulus), occasional short talks, and as a leader of natural history field trips in the UAE and abroad.

Binish has done several years of intensive field work in diverse habitats in different Emirates. While primarily focused on insects, Binish contributed to the recognition and study of several rare species of UAE wildlife, notably Walton's mudskipper and Bosk's fringe-toed lizard.

Binish was honoured for his contributions to the knowledge of the UAE´s Natural History with the 2016 Sheikh Mubarak bin Mohammed Award for Natural History, established by Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.