Hao-Miao Zhang

Latitudinal diversity gradients (LDGs) arise from the interplay of historical, ecological, and evolutionary processes, yet these drivers may differ across landforms. Mountains, with steep elevational and climatic gradients, often sustain distinct diversity dynamics compared with adjacent lowlands, where vertical climatic gradients are weak and human pressures stronger. However, how the patterns and underlying drivers of LDGs differ between mountains and lowlands remains poorly understood. We used distributional and phylogenetic data for 732 Odonata species across eastern China to compare taxonomic and phylogenetic LDGs between mountains and lowlands, and to identify the environmental drivers underlying these patterns. Phylogenetic diversity was quantified using mean pairwise distance (MPD) and mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD), which reflect lineage relatedness at basal and tip levels, respectively. Our results revealed that Odonata species richness and phylogenetic diversity declined significantly with latitude in mountains and lowlands. The slopes of LDGs were similar for species richness and tip phylogenetic diversity, whereas basal phylogenetic diversity showed a steeper decline in mountains than in lowlands. Random forest analysis revealed that current climatic conditions, such as mean annual temperature, are the key driver of LDGs in both mountains and lowlands, whereas historical climate change had little effect on either landform. Moreover, temperature seasonality played a particularly important role in shaping mountain LDGs, while human pressure exerted a significant negative effect in lowlands, particularly by reducing basal phylogenetic diversity. Overall, our results highlight the dual conservation challenge of safeguarding climate‐sensitive montane lineages while mitigating the loss of evolutionary heritage in heavily modified lowland ecosystems, and underscore the role of topography in shaping large‐scale biodiversity patterns.

We present an updated classification for extant dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) and summarize new insights gained over the past two decades. Our focus is on taxa of family-level and higher and we indicate subfamilies only when their monophyly is currently undisputed and well-supported by phylogenetic analyses. The superfamily Calopterygoidea was known to be polyphyletic and based on recent phylogenomic data is divided into nine superfamilies, of which eight are recognized for the first time (Amphipterygoidea stat. nov., Euphaeoidea stat. nov., Megapodagrionoidea stat. nov., Mesopod­agrionoidea stat. nov., Philogangoidea stat. nov., Polythoroidea stat. nov., Priscagrionoidea stat. nov., Tatocnemidoidea stat. nov.). At present, midway through 2025, odonates are divided into three suborders, 17 superfamilies, 55 families and 687 genera containing 6447 species (May 1, 2025). We give an overview of the distribution of the families across major biogeographical realms. Except for Amanipodagrionidae, nymphs of at least some of the species of all families are known. Our understanding of the classification of dragonflies and damselflies has greatly improved in the past two decades largely due to phylogenetic inferences based on molecular studies. We expect that in the next few years the last remaining issues regarding the higher-level phylogeny and classification, including the position of the South American genus Sciotropis and the division into subfamilies of families such as Coenagrionidae, Aeshnidae, Gomphidae and Libellulidae, will be better refined by the acquisition of additional morphological and genomic data.

A new species, Cephalaeschna flabellata sp. nov., is described and illustrated in colour from Yunnan Province, China. As the sixteenth species of the genus recorded in China, this new species is characterized by: (1) head with an extremely broad frons, almost 2/3 the width of the head in dorsal view; (2) the absence of a T-shaped mark on the top of the frons; (3) abdomen with a single fan-shaped anterodorsal spot on segments 3 to 7, and with the mediodorsal spots connected to the anterolateral spots; (4) superior appendages expanded in apical 2/3, appearing broadest at the middle and ending with an upward curve in lateral view; and (5) inferior appendage about 2/3 the length of superiors. An updated key for all Chinese Cephalaeschna Selys, 1883 species is provided here. Brief notes on biology of the new species are also included.

Dragonfly classification is crucial for biodiversity conservation. Traditional taxonomic approaches require extensive training and experience, limiting their efficiency. Computer vision offers promising solutions for dragonfly taxonomy. In this study, we adapt the face recognition algorithms for the classification of dragonfly species, achieving efficient recognition of categories with extremely small differences between classes. Meanwhile, this method can also reclassify data that were incorrectly labeled. The model is mainly built based on the classic face recognition algorithm (ResNet50+ArcFace), and ResNet50 is used as the comparison algorithm for model performance. Three datasets with different inter-class data distributions were constructed based on two dragonfly image data sources: Data1, Data2 and Data3. Ultimately, our model achieved Top1 accuracy rates of 94.3%, 85.7%, and 90.2% on the three datasets, surpassing ResNet50 by 0.6, 1.5, and 1.6 percentage points, respectively. Under the confidence thresholds of 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, and 0.95, the Top1 accuracy rates on the three datasets were 96.0%, 97.4%, 98.7%, and 99.2%, respectively. In conclusion, our research provides a novel approach for species classification. Furthermore, it can calculate the similarity between classes while predicting categories, thereby offering the potential to provide technical support for biological research on the similarity between species.

A new subspecies Epiophlebia laidlawi daliensis Zhang, Yang, Wei & Lyu, subsp. nov. is described from adult and larval specimens collected at Mt Cangshan in the Hengduan Mountains, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, China. The holotype male was collected by Hao-miao Zhang and Rui-bin Song on 22 May 2022. Both sexes and larva of the new subspecies are compared with those of Epiophlebia l. laidlawi Tillyard, 1921 and E. superstes (Selys, 1889). A total of 15 sequences of ITS1 and 17 sequences of ITS2 were analysed and used for the phylogenetic comparisons. According to this analysis, E. l. daliensis subsp. nov. and E. l. laidlawi share a very close phylogenetic relationship, while E. l. daliensis, subsp. nov. and E. superstes are genetically more distant from one another than are E. l. laidlawi and E. superstes. Both neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods produced consistent phylogenetic trees, with all E. l. daliensis specimens clustering with E. l. laidlawi. The existence of the named ‘species’ E. sinensis Li & Nel, 2012 (which in molecular analyses is retrieved within E. superstes) is considered doubtful, hence it is not considered here. Its status will be evaluated in another publication.

Dragonfly classification are crucial for biodiversity conservation. Traditional taxonomic approaches require extensive training and experience, limiting their efficiency. Computer vision offers promising solutions for dragonfly taxonomy.In this study, we adapt the face recognition algorithms for the classification of dragonfly species, achieving efficient recognition of categories with extremely small differences between classes. Meanwhile, this method can also reclassify data that was incorrectly labeled. The model is mainly built based on the classic face recognition algorithm (ResNet50+ArcFace), and ResNet50 is used as the comparison algorithm for model performance. Three datasets with different inter-class data distributions were constructed based on two dragonfly image data sources.: Data1, Data2 and Data3. Ultimately, our model achieved Top1 accuracy rates of 94.3%, 85.7%, and 90.2% on the three datasets, surpassing ResNet50 by 0.6, 1.5, and 1.6 percentage points, respectively. Under the confidence thresholds of 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, and 0.95, the Top1 accuracy rates on the three datasets were 96.0%, 97.4%, 98.7%, and 99.2%, respectively. In conclusion, our research provides a novel approach for species classification. Furthermore, it can calculate the similarity between classes while predicting categories, thereby offering the potential to provide technical support for biological research on the similarity between species.

Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) are among the most ancient winged insects, with over 900 species recorded in China, representing the highest global diversity. However, the lack of a centralized database integrating morphological, ecological, and multiomics data has hindered large-scale research and conservation efforts. We present Odonata of China (http://dragonflies.kiz.ac.cn), a comprehensive database compiling taxonomic, biogeographic, phenotypic, and multiomics data for 820 species across 3 suborders, 22 families, and 172 genera. The database features advanced search modules (direct, phylogenetic, and map-based), genomic and transcriptomic data for 20 representative families, and high-resolution images. The platform is constructed based on mainstream open-source technologies, ensuring scalability and reproducibility. Odonata of China provides a critical resource for evolutionary biology, conservation, and ecological studies. By integrating heterogeneous data types and leveraging modern technologies, this database bridges a significant gap in invertebrate biodiversity informatics and supports global initiatives to monitor insect declines.

Neurobasis chinensis is widely distributed in eastern tropical Asia. Its only congener in China, the N. anderssoni, has not been observed for decades. To protect N. chinensis, it is necessary to understand the ecological properties of its habitats and specie’s range shift under climate change. In the present study, we modeled its potential distribution under one historical, current, and four future scenarios. We evaluated the importance of the factors that shape its distribution and habitats and predicted the historical and current core spatial distributions and their shifting in the future. Two historical core distribution areas were identified: the inland region of the Bay of Bengal and south-central Vietnam. The current potential distribution includes south China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Luzon of Philippines, Malaysia, southwest and northeast India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia (Java, Sumatera), Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and foothills of the Himalayas, in total, ca. 3.59 × 10⁶ km². Only one core distribution remained, concentrated in south-central Vietnam. In a warming future, the core distribution, high suitable habitats, and even the whole range of N. chinensis will expand and shift northwards. Currently, N. chinensis mainly resides in forest ecosystems below 1200 m above sea level (preferred 500 m to 1200 m a.s.l.). Annual precipitation, mean temperature of driest quarter, and seasonality of precipitation are important factors shaping the species distribution. Our study provides systematic information on habitats and geographical distribution, which is useful for the conservation of N. chinensis.

The final stadium larvae of Huosoma latiloba (Yu, Yang & Bu, 2008) and Huosoma tinctipenne (McLachlan, 1894) from Yunnan Province, China are described and illustrated for the first time, with diagnostic differences between the two species identified. While no morphological characters separating the adults of this genus, and the closely related western Palaearctic Pyrrhosoma Charpentier, 1840 have been found, the larvae of these two genera do show differences which are discussed here.

The final instar larva of the genus Archineura Kirby, 1894 is described for the first time, based on a specimen of the Chinese endemic species Archineura incarnata (Karsch, 1892) collected from Mt. Nankunshan, Guangdong Province, China. The larva is distinguished by several characters, including its moderately slender build combined with the distinctive extremely long legs, long, narrow, uniquely spined outer caudal appendages, a mask strongly expanded anteriorly with a relatively small median cleft, and robust spines at the apex of the labial palp. The mask is most similar to larvae of Echo Selys, 1853, Mnais Selys, 1853 and Psolodesmus MacLachlan, 1870 which are considered its nearest relatives based on molecular analysis, but from which it differs in other characters. The biology of Archineura larvae is discussed briefly.