Conservation status and protection of three Antillean endemic damselflies

Hypolestes (Odonata, Zygoptera) is a damselfly genus endemic to the Greater Antilles. The genus comprises three species: H. clara from Jamaica, H. trinitatis from Cuba, and H. hatuey from Hispaniola, which are currently evaluated by the IUCN as Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU) and Data Deficient, respectively. Here, we re-assess the conservation status of these species based on their extent of occurrence, as estimated from ecological niche models. In addition, we analyse the coverage offered to each of the three species by the protected areas from Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti. Our results support the maintenance H. trinitatis in the category of VU, and suggest the re-classification of H. hatuey as Near Threatened. The estimated extent of occurrence for H. clara is 6422 km², a value close to the threshold of 5000 km² between VU and EN. Therefore, we recommend keeping H. clara as EN, until new evidence based on population size and trend could support a change from this category to VU. We found that 14 % of the extent of occurrence for H. clara and H. hatuey, and 33 % for H. trinitatis, are within protected areas. However, the ongoing extensive deforestation in Hispaniola, coupled with the lack of protection in Haiti, could cause a decrease of the extent of occurrence of H. hatuey in the future.