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Diversity assessment of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) in Aponmu forest was carried out to determine its
composition, abundance, and distribution. Biodiversity of the taxon was also used as a measure of human activities
in the forest. Three study sites were identified at the forest which were: “Ago-Store” Pond (AGO), “Alatori” stream
(ALA) and River “Aponmu” (APO). Both adults and larvae specimens of Odonata were collected. Only advanced
penultimate and ultimate larvae were collected and were reared to adults. Some physico-chemical parameters that
influenced the existence of Odonata within the forest were also investigated. Diversity indices and inferential
statistic were applied to the data collected at the forest. Water samples collected were analyzed so as to determine
quality of water which houses the immature stages of the fauna. One thousand, three hundred and eighty five
individuals were collected from the forest. Most of the species collected were ubiquitous. “Alatori” stream was the
richest study site, while river “Aponmu” was the least. Generally, the study indicates that the dominance of
ubiquitous species of Odonata with broad niches in the forest may be a result of anthropogenic activity going on in
the forest.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Dragonflies, Damselflies, Forest