Ambient Science: Click the Volume and issue number for Complete Article

Location where to get the Complete Article --> Vol 4, No 1 (2017): 21-26

ISSN- 2348-5191 (Print version); 2348-8980 (Online)

A Current Status on Diversity and Distribution of Black Flies (Insecta: Diptera: Simuliidae) in India



Bulganin Mitra, Sankarsan Roy, Souradip Roy, Sumana Halder, Upasana Chattopadhyay, Subhrajit Bhaumik

Abstract

Till date a total of 69 species of eight sub-genera under one genus belonging to the family Simuliidae of the order Diptera are reported from India, which is 3.11% of the total world extant simuliid fauna. Among these, 30.43% species are restricted to India. Out of 36 states and union territories of India, simuliids are reported only from 20 states and UTs. Highest numbers of species are reported from the Himalayan biogeographic zone (68.11%) and lowest in Indo-Gangetic plains (5.79%). So far, nothing has been known from Islands biogeographic zone.


References

  • Adler, P. (2003): Prevalence of the trichomycete fungus Harpellamelusinae (Harpellales: Harpellaceae) in larval black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) across a heterogeneous environment. Mycologia, 95(4):577-583.
  • Adler, P.H. & Crosskey, R.W. (2016): World blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) : A comprehensive revision of the taxonomic and geographical inventory. BioMIA. Pub. by: Clemson University, South Carolina.
  • Alfred, J.R.B., Das A.K. & Sanyal A.K. (2001): In: Ecosystems of India. ENVIS Centre, ZSI, Kolkata, pp. 1-33, 93-122, 317-410.
  • Anbalagan, S., Prasanna, V.A., Kannan, M., Dinakaran, S. & Krishnan, M. (2014): Two new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Peninsular India with keys to Peninsular Indian members of the genus Simulium. Zootaxa, 3861(5):451-465.
  • Anbalagan, S., Prasanna, V.A., Kannan, M., Dinakaran, S. & Krishnan, M. (2015a): Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Southern Western Ghats, India: Two new species and DNA barcoding. Acta Trop., 149: 94-105.
  • Anbalagan, S., Balachandran, C., Prasanna, V.A., Kannan, M., Dinakaran, S. & Krishnan, M. (2015b): A new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from South India, with keys to Indian members of the subgenus Gomphostilbia. Zootaxa, 3974(4): 555-563.
  • Azevedo, L. (2006). Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the Itatiaia National Park, Brazil. Neotrop. Entomol., 35(4):542-550.
  • Becher, E. (1885): A new species of Simulium from Assam. J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, 53 (2): 199-200.
  • Brunetti, E. (1911): New Oriental Nemocera. Rec. Indian Mus., 4: 259-316.
  • Cummins, K.W. (1987): The functional role of black flies in stream ecosystems. In: Kim KC, Merritt RW (eds.). Black Flies: Ecology, population management and annotated world list. Pub. by: The Pennsylvania State University Press.
  • Datta, M. (1973): New species of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of the subgenera Eusimulium Roubaud and Gomphostilbia Enderlein from the Darjeeling area, India. Orient. Insects, 7: 363-402.
  • Datta, M. (1974a): Some black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of the subgenus Simulium Latreille (s. str.) from the Darjeeling area (India). Orient. Insects, 8: 15-27.
  • Datta, M. (1974b): New species of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from the Darjeeling area, India. Orient. Insects, 8: 457-468.
  • Datta, M. (1975): Simuliidae (Diptera) from Assam foot-hills, India. Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, 26: 31-40.
  • Datta, M. (1978): Simuliidae (Diptera) from Sikkim, India. Bull. Zool. Sur. India, 1(3): 253-256.
  • Datta, M. (1980): Collection and preservation of blackflies (Diptera :Simuliidae). Proc. Workshop Tech. Parasitol. Zool. Surv. India: 75-82.
  • Datta, M. (1983): A review of Simuliidae (Diptera) from the Oriental Region. Orient. Insects, 17(1):215-267.
  • Datta, M. (1985): Notes on Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Kashmir, India. Bull. Zool. Sur. India, 7(2-3): 231-236.
  • Datta, M. (1992): An overview of the Simuliidae (Diptera) of West Bengal, India. J. Bengal Nat. Hist. Soc., 11: 41-62.
  • Datta, M. (1997): Insecta: Diptera: Simuliidae. In: Zoological Survey of India, Fauna of West Bengal, State fauna series, 3(7): 127-162.
  • Datta, M. & Dasgupta, B. (1972): On the collection and rearing of black flies (Simuliidae: Diptera) of Darjiling. Indian Biol., 4: 54-59.
  • Datta, M. & Pal, T.K. (1975): Few rare black fly species (Diptera :Simuliidae) of the subgenus Simulium Latreille (s. str.) from the Darjiling area, India. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (B), 81:154-161.
  • Datta, M., Dey, R.K., Pal, A.K. & Pal, T.K. (1975): Ecology of the black flies in (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Darjeeling area. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (B), 81(1): 7-19.
  • Dutta Saha, P., Sharma, R.M. &Mitra, B. (2012): Insecta: Diptera. In: Zoological Survey of India, Fauna of Maharashtra, State fauna Series, 20: 531-538.
  • Edwards, F.W. (1927): Two new Simulium from Kashmir. Bull. Ent. Res., 18: 169-170.
  • Fallis, A.M. (1964): Feeding and related behaviour of female Simuliidae (Diptera). Exper. Parasitol., 15: 439-470.
  • Henry, W., Thapa, S., Adler, P.H., Dey, S.K. & Varma, R. (2011): Cytotaxonomy of Simulium (Montisimulium) ghoomense (Diptera: Simuliidae) from the Darjeeling Hills, India. Zootaxa, 2872: 49-57.
  • Latreille, P.A. (1802): Histoire naturelle, generaleetparticuliere, des crustaces et des insectes. Tome troisieme. Dufart, Paris. xii + 13-467 + 1 pp.
  • Lewis, D.J. (1974): Man-biting Simuliidae (Diptera) of north India. Israel J. Entomol., 9: 23-53.
  • Meigen, J.W. (1818): Systematische Beschreibung der bekannten europäischen zweiflügeligen Insekten. Erster Teil FW Forstmann, Aachen, xxxvi + 332 pp; Pinder LCV.
  • Mitra, B., Lahiri, A.R. & Mukherjee, M. (2006): Insecta: Diptera: Nematocera. In: Zoological Survey of India, Fauna of Arunachal Pradesh, State fauna Series, 13(2): 225-255.
  • Mitra B. & Sharma R.M. (2010): Checklist of Indian Black flies (Insecta: Diptera: Simuliidae). Zoological survey of India (www.zsi.gov.in/checklist).
  • Newman, E. (1834): Attempted division of British insects into natural orders. Ent. Mag., 2: 379-431.
  • Pape, T., Blagoderov V. & Mostovski M.B. (2011): Order DIPTERA Linnaeus, 1758. In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness. Zootaxa, 3148: 222-229.
  • Pape, T. & Evenhuis N.L. (eds.)(2013): SystemaDipterorum, Version-1.5.67 records. http://www.diptera.org/
  • Puri, I.M. (1932a): Studies on Indian Simuliidae. Part-I. Simuliumhimalayense sp. n.; Simuliumgurneyae Senior-White; and Simuliumnilgiricum sp. n. Indian J. Med. Res., 19: 883-898.
  • Puri, I.M. (1932b): Studies on Indian Simuliidae. Part-II. Description of males, females and pupae of Simuliumrufibasis Brunetti, its variety fasciatumnov. var. and of three new species from the Himalayas. Indian J. Med. Res., 19: 899-913.
  • Puri, I.M. (1932c): Studies on Indian Simuliidae. Part-III. Description of males, females and pupae of S. griseifrons Brunetti (1911) and of four new species with striped thorax. Indian J. Med. Res., 19: 1125-1143.
  • Puri, I.M. (1932d): On Indian Simuliidae. Part IV. Descriptions of two new species from north-east India, Simuliumhowletti sp. n. and Simuliumhirtipennis sp. n., with a note on S. ornatum Meigen. Indian J. med. Res., 20: 505-514.
  • Puri, I.M. (1932e): Studies on Indian Simuliidae. Part-V. Species and varieties of the striatum series. Indian J. Med. Res., 20: 515-532.
  • Puri I.M. (1933a): Studies on Indian Simuliidae. Part VI. Descriptions of males, females and pupae of two new species from Palni Hills and of male and pupa of S. tenuitarsus sp.n. from Bengal Terai. Indian J. Medi. Res., 20(3): 803-812.
  • Puri, I.M. (1933b): Studies on Indian Simuliidae. Part VII. Description of larvae, pupa and females of Simuliumnodosum sp. nov., with an appendix dealing with S. novolineatum. nov. nom. (= S. lineatumPuri). Indian J. Med. Res., 20: 813-817.
  • Puri, I.M. (1933c): Studies on Indian Simuliidae. Part VIII. Description of larvae, pupa, male & females of S. aureohirtum Brunetti and S. aureumflies. Indian J. Med. Res., 21: 1-10.
  • Senior-White R.A. (1922a): Notes on Indian Diptera. 1. Diptera from the Khasia Hills. 2. Tabanidae in the collection of the forest zoologist. 3. New species of Diptera from the Indian Region. Mem. Dept. Agricul. India, Entom. Ser., 7: 83-170.
  • Senior-White, R.A. (1922b): New species of Diptera from the Indian Region. Mem. Dept. Agricul. India, Entom. Ser., 7: 107-169, pls 11-15.
  • Shrestha, S. & Takaoka, H. (2009): New records of ten species of Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Nepal. Japan Soc. Med. Entomol. Zool., 60 (4): 253-258.
  • Takaoka, H. & Somboon, P. (2008): Eleven new species and one new record of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Bhutan. Med. Entomol. Zool., 59: 213-262.
  • Takaoka, H., S. Thapa, and W. Henry. (2010): Description of two new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Darjeeling, India. Med. Entomol. Zool., 61: 105-110.
  • Takaoka, H., Thapa, S. & Henry, W. (2011): A new species of black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) with an entirely yellow thorax from Darjeeling, India. Zootaxa, 2824: 62-68.
  • Upton, S. (2005): "TOPIC 45. Order: Diptera; suborder: Nematocera" (On-line). Animal Parasitology Course Lecture Notes. www.kstate.edu/parasitology/classes/625arth45.html.

    • DOI:10.21276/ambi.2017.04.1.rv01

    Creative Commons License

    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
    Published by: National Cave Research and Protection Organization, India

    <Environmental Science+Zoology+Geology+Cave Science>AMBIENT SCIENCE