Taxonomy and Distribution of Butterflies (Papilionoidea) of the Skardu Region, Pakistan

A study was conducted in six different localities around Skardu, Pakistan to document the butterfly fauna of that region. The study revealed that 16 species in 5 families and 14 genera occur in the area. The families include: Papilionidae (represented only by the genus Parnassius); Pieridae (genera Pieris, Pontia, and Colias are represented); Lycaenidae (genera Lycaena, Everes, Aricia, Plebejus, Zizeeria, and Zizina are represented); Nymphalidae (only two genera, Aglais and Cynthia are represented); and Satyridae (represented by the genera Pararge and Maniola)

Faunistics of Tiger Beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) from Pakistan

The present biogeographic distribution of tiger beetle fauna is an attempt to register all modern taxa from Pakistan. It includes 55 taxa under 14 genera and 11 subgenera. Three species, Cylindera (Eriodera) albopunctata (Chaudoir 1852), Cicindela viridilabris (Chaudoir 1852) and Neocollyris (Neocollyris) redtenbacheri (Horn 1894) are recorded from Pakistan for the first time

Establishment of the Invasive Cactus Moth, \u3ci\u3eCactoblastis cactorum\u3c/i\u3e (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Pakistan: A Potential Threat to Cultivated, Ornamental and Wild \u3ci\u3eOpuntia\u3c/i\u3e spp. (Cactaceae)

Subsequent to the significant accomplishment of biological control of Opuntia weeds in Australia, the larvae of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (native to parts of South America), were released in many countries for the biological control of native Opuntia species (Simmonds and Bennett, 1966). Inauspiciously, larvae were also released in the Caribbean, where the moth spread naturally and by the human support all over the region (García-Turudi et al., 1971). Its enhanced dissemination rate and the biological potential for invasiveness, suggests that the cactus moth is likely to become an invasive pest of Opuntia in the Southeast United States, Mexico, and southwestern America. Its damage is restricted mainly to the plants of genus Opuntia (plants with the characteristic of flat prickly pear pads of the former genus Platyopuntia, now considered to be the part of the genus Opuntia). In this region, plants of this genus provide valuable resources for humans, livestock, and wildlife such as food, medicine, and emergency fodder, while in the arid and semi-arid regions, the plants play key roles in ecosystem processes and soil conservation. At present, the cactus moth has developed into a severe threat to the high diversity of prickly pear cacti, all over the world for both the native and cultivated species of Opuntia (IAEA, 2002)

Survey of Predatory Coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in the Chitral District, Pakistan

An extensive survey of predatory Coccinellid beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) was conducted in the Chitral District, Pakistan, over a period of 7 months (April through October, 2001). A total of 2600 specimens of Coccinellids were collected from 12 different localities having altitudes from 1219.40–2651.63 m. Twelve different species belonging to 9 genera of 3 tribes and 2 sub-families were recorded. Two sub-families, viz, Coccinellinae Latreille, 1807 and Chilocorinae Mulsant, 1846 were identified. The following 8 species belonged to family Coccinellinae Latreille 1807 and tribe Coccinellini Latreille 1807: Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, 1758, Hippodamia (Adonia) variegata Goeze, 1777, Calvia punctata (Mulsant, 1846), Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus, 1758),Adalia tetraspilota (Hope, 1831), Aiolocaria hexaspilota Hope 1851, Macroilleis (Halyzia) hauseri Mader, 1930,Oenopia conglobata Linnaeus, 1758. Only one species namely Halyzia tschitscherini Semenov, 1965 represented tribe Psylloborini of the sub-family Coccinellinae Latreille, 1807. Three species occurred from sub-family Chilocorinae Mulsant 1846 and tribe Chilocorini Mulsant 1846: Chilocorus rubidus Hope, 1831, Chilocorus circumdatus (Gyllenhal, 1808), Priscibrumus uropygialis (Mulsant, 1853). From the aforementioned species 6 were recorded for the first time from Pakistan: Chilocorus circumdatus, Calvia punctata, Adalia bipunctata, Macroilleis (Halyzia) hauseri, Priscibrumus uropygialis, and Oenopia conglobata

Brachinus (Brachinus) ejaculans Fischer Von Waldheim 1828

<i>Brachinus (Brachinus) ejaculans</i> Fischer Von Waldheim, 1828 <p> <i>Brachinus graecus</i> Dejean, 1831: 430; <i>Brachinus costulatus</i> Motschulsky, 1844: 68; <i>Brachinus dubius</i> Ballion, 1871: 324; <i>Brachinus kosak</i> Iljin, 1923: 139; <i>Brachinus turcomanus</i> Iljin, 1923 (Anichtchenko 2016; Lorenz 2016)</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> Gilgit-Baltistan, Gulapur, 1 ♂, 05.vii.1989, Dr. M. Afzal; Punjab, Layyah, Chak No. 127, 1 ♂, 05.viii.2010, Adnan Bodhla (PMNH).</p> <p> <b>Measurements:</b> Male (n=2): TL= 10.3 mm, HW= 1.9 mm, PL= 1.7 mm (n=2), PW= 1.8 mm, EL= 6.4 mm, EW= 2.1 mm. Ratios PL/PW= 0.95, HW/PW= 1.02 and EL/EW= 2.99</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Head, antenna, thorax and legs mostly reddish brown. Head and thorax moderately punctuate covered with white setae. Elytra entirely black with bluish metallic tinge bearing white setae. Elytral striae shallow but evident. Elytra apical membrane terminal side with a row of long setae. Abdomen ventral blackish brown whereas thorax reddish brown.</p> <p> <b>Comments:</b> <i>B. (B.) ejaculans</i> resembles <i>B. (B.) crepitans</i> (Linneaus 1758) by having almost same body coloration. <i>B. (B.) crepitans</i> differs on the basis of antennomeres III–IV darkened, whole body covered with reddish brown setae, elytra apex with narrow membranous margin bearing coarser and longer setae. <i>B. (B.) ejaculans</i> shows antennae entirely reddish brown, body covered with white setae, elytra apex with longer membranous margin with a row of setae not longer than the width of apical membrane. This species is reported for the first time from Pakistan.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> This species is widely distributed in Palearctic region from Central Asia to Western Europe (Anichtchenko 2016; Lorenz 2016).</p>Published as part of <i>Ullah, Mishkat, Naeem, Muhammad, Mahmood, Khalid & Rafi, Muhammad Ather, 2017, Faunistic studies of the tribe Brachinini (Carabidae: Coleoptera) from northern Pakistan, pp. 173-184 in Zootaxa 4232 (2)</i> on page 176, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4232.2.2, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/292888">http://zenodo.org/record/292888</a&gt

Pheropsophus (Stenaptinus) catoirei Dejean 1825

<i>Pheropsophus (Stenaptinus) catoirei</i> (Dejean, 1825) <p> <i>Pheropsophus kabulensis</i> Jedlicka, 1964 [unav.] (Anichtchenko 2016; Lorenz 2016)</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> Islamabad Capital Territory, Islamabad, 1 ♀, 17.x.1981, 1 ♀, 01.xi.1981, 5 ♂, 24.xi.1982, 2 ♂, 13.iii.1983, 1 ♀, 16.iii.1984, Anonymous, 1 ♀, 22.vi.1987, L.A. Abro, 1 ♀, 10.ix.2013, Fida; Islamabad, G-9/2 Graveyard, 1♀, 05.iv.2014, Mishkat; Islamabad, PMNH (pitfall traps), 3 ♀, 10.iv.2014, 1 ♀, 11.iv.2014, 2 ♀, 12.iv.2014, 3♀, 14.iv.2014, 3 ♀ &1 ♂, 15.iv.2014, 1 ♀ &1 ♂, 16.iv.2014, 2 ♀, 18.iv.2014, 1 ♀, 20.iv.2014, 3 ♀ & 3 ♂, 21.iv.2014, 2 ♀, 23.iv.2014, 2 ♀ & 1 ♂, 25.iv.2014, 4 ♀ & 1♂, 29.iv.2014, Mishkat; Islamabad, NARC (pitfall traps), 26 ♀ &28 ♂, 28.iv.2014, 9 ♀ & 5 ♂, 30.iv.2014, 6 ♀ & 2 ♂, 02.v.2014; Islamabad, Quaid-i-Azam University, Village Rumli, 1 ♀ & 4 ♂, 21.iii.2015 Mishkat (PMNH). Islamabad, NARC, 1 ♂, 23.vi.2006, Falak Naz; Islamabad, 1 ♂, 22.ii.2007, Anjam (NIM). Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dir, 1 ♀, 22.vii.1987, Dr. Afzal; Swat, Miandam, 1 ♂, 07.viii.1989, L.A. Abro, 2 ♂, 31.viii.2015, Mishkat; Swat, Mingora, Fizagut, 2 ♀, 31-viii-2015, Mishkat; Swat, Marghuzar, 2 ♀ & 2 ♂, 01.ix.2015, Mishkat; Swat, Manglore, 10 ♀ & 9 ♂, 02.ix.2015, Mishkat; Chitral, Khanis-Fir, 2 ♀, 23.viii.2015, Mishkat; Chitral, Buni, 9 ♀ & 5 ♂, 24.viii.2015, Mishkat; Chitral, Mastuj, 3 ♂, 24.viii.2015, Mishkat; Chitral, Barir Valley, 2 ♂, 25.viii.2015, Mishkat; Chitral, Barir Valley, Guru village, 4 ♂, 25.viii.2015, Mishkat; Chitral, Shishi, Tar Shishikoh, 2 ♀ & 4 ♂, 26.viii.2015, Mishkat; Chitral, Ashtromshishkoh, 1 ♀, 26.viii.2015, Mishkat (PMNH); Chitral, Chashma, 2 ♀, 20.vi.2012, Dr. Ather Rafi; Mansehra, Tarnain, 1 ♂, 25.iv.2014, Sidra Khursheed, 1 ♂, 16.v.2014, Nadia Shah (NIM). Punjab, Khushab, Uchali Lake, 1 ♀, 3-7. viii.2007, M. Abbas; Layyah, Chak No. 127, 1 ♂, 05.viii.2010, Adnan Bodhla; Attock, Akhori, 1 ♀ & 1♂, 29.v.2014; Choa Sadian Shah, Rakhoch, 1 ♀, 31.v.2014; Rawalpindi, Ayub Park, 4 ♀ & 2 ♂, 20.iii.2015, Mishkat (PMNH). Rawalpindi, 1 ♂, 23.viii.2006, Asad; Chakwal, Dhok Taalian Dam, 3 ♀ & 2 ♂, 08.vi.2009 Asad Ali (NIM). Gilgit-Baltistan, Ghizer, Gahkuch, 1 ♀ & 1 ♂, 05.ix.2014, Mishkat (PMNH). Chilas (Light trap), 1 ♀, 07.vi.2007, Anonymous; Dassu, (10 km ahead), 2 ♀, 08.vi.2007, Amjad, 1 ♂, 08.vi.2007, Amir Sultan, 1 ♀, 08.vi.2007, A. Zia (NIM). Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Rawalakot, date unknown, Afshan (NIM); Muzaffarabad, Hattiyan Dupata, 2 ♀ & 4 ♂, 25.iv.2016, Mishkat; Kahori, Neelum Valley, 4 ♂, 25.iv.2016, Mishkat (PMNH).</p> <p> <b>Measurements.</b> Male (n=15): TL= 14.36 mm, HW= 2.74 mm, PL= 2.89 mm, PW= 3.04 mm, EL= 8.39 mm, EW= 2.68 mm. Ratios PL/PW= 0.95, HW/PW= 0.90 and EL/EW= 3.13</p> <p>Female (n=15): TL= 15.82 mm, HW= 2.97 mm, PL= 3.13 mm, PW= 3.32mm, EL= 9.22 mm, EW= 2.87 mm. Ratios PL/PW= 0.94, HW/PW= 0.89 and EL/EW= 3.21</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Head and pronotum completely reddish brown. Head posterior part and pronotum with few scattered punctures. Elytra black, humeral mark yellow and rounded, median transverse band round near elytral suture and narrow towards epipleuron. Epipleuron black except where median transverse band touches. Apical band more or less uniform from 1st to 8th elytral striae. Legs yellow with tarsus reddish brown.</p> <p> <b>Comments.</b> <i>P. (S.) catoirei</i> is quite similar to <i>P. (S.) lissoderus</i> Chaudoir, 1850 with respect to coloration of head, antenna, pronotum, elytra and ventral side of body, and differs from this last species in having head and pronotum smooth, pronotal bead black, elytra median transverse band with serrated margins and elytral epipleuron completely black, apical end of femur black.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> This species is widely distributed in northern Pakistan from Layyah to Ghizer. Previously, it was reported from Gilgit (Mandl 1964), Afghanistan, Bhutan, India and Nepal (Anichtchenko 2016).</p>Published as part of <i>Ullah, Mishkat, Naeem, Muhammad, Mahmood, Khalid & Rafi, Muhammad Ather, 2017, Faunistic studies of the tribe Brachinini (Carabidae: Coleoptera) from northern Pakistan, pp. 173-184 in Zootaxa 4232 (2)</i> on pages 179-180, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4232.2.2, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/292888">http://zenodo.org/record/292888</a&gt

Brachinus (Aploa) pictus Hope 1833

<i>Brachinus (Aploa) pictus</i> Hope, 1833 <p>Figure 2 (a)</p> <p> <i>Brachinus figratus</i> Chaudoir, 1852: 41 (Anichtchenko 2016; Lorenz 2016)</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> Punjab, Mianwali, Nummal Lake, 1 ♀ & 1 ♂, 09.iii.2007, M. Abbas; Attock, Akhori, 11 ♀ & 4 ♂, 29.iii.2014; Attock, Humak, 1♀ & 1♂, 29.iii.2014; Chakwal, Katas, 1 ♂, 30.v.2014, Mishkat (PMNH).</p> <p> <b>Measurements:</b> Male (n=5): TL= 10.55 mm, HW= 2.17 mm, PL= 1.73 mm, PW= 2.32 mm, EL= 6.50 mm, EW= 2.62 mm. Ratios PL/PW= 0.74, HW/PW= 0.93 and EL/EW= 2.48</p> <p>Female (n=5): TL= 10.97 mm, HW= 2.18 mm, PL= 1.89 mm, PW= 2.33 mm, EL= 6.82 mm, EW= 2.73 mm. Ratios PL/PW= 0.81, HW/PW= 0.93 and EL/EW= 2.49</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Body mostly yellow, antennal segments V to XI brownish. Elytra length 2.48 times of its maximum width, with black marks near the scutellum along the suture upto 2/5 of elytra length, two rounded sub-humeral spots narrowly extended to the shoulders and a sub-apical transverse band with three posterior spots merged to form a continuous sinuated band.</p> <p> <b>Comments.</b> This species closely resembles <i>B. (A.) nobilis</i> Dejean, 1931 in color details: both species are yellowish, but the outer subhumeral spot extends to the humeral region in <i>B. (A.) pictus</i>, which is never the case in <i>B. (A.) nobilis</i>.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> The species was collected in Attock and Mianwali regions. All of the earlier records of this species originated from India (Maharashtra; West Bengal), Iran, Sri Lanka and Thailand (Anichtchenko 2016; Lorenz 2016).</p>Published as part of <i>Ullah, Mishkat, Naeem, Muhammad, Mahmood, Khalid & Rafi, Muhammad Ather, 2017, Faunistic studies of the tribe Brachinini (Carabidae: Coleoptera) from northern Pakistan, pp. 173-184 in Zootaxa 4232 (2)</i> on page 176, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4232.2.2, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/292888">http://zenodo.org/record/292888</a&gt

Pheropsophus (Stenaptinus) hilaris subsp. sobrinus Dejean 1826

<i>Pheropsophus (Stenaptinus) hilaris sobrinus</i> (Dejean, 1826) <p>Figure 3 (b)</p> <p> <i>Pheropsophus desbordesi</i> Maindron 1899: 16 (Hrdličlka 2003; Lorenz 2016; Anichtchenko 2016)</p> <p> <b>Material examined</b>. Punjab, Rawalpindi, Ayub Park, 3 ♀ & 6 ♂, 20.iii.2015, Mishkat (PMNH). Chakwal, Dhok Taalian, 1 ♀ & 1 ♂, 08.vi.2009. Asad Ali (NIM).</p> <p> <b>Measurements.</b> Male (n=6): TL= 14.06 mm, HW= 2.80 mm, PL= 2.76 mm, PW= 3.10 mm, EL= 8.20 mm, EW= 2.72 mm. Ratios PL/PW= 0.89, HW/PW= 0.90 and EL/EW= 3.21.</p> <p>Female (n=6): TL= 15.2 mm, HW= 3.05 mm, PL= 2.8 mm, PW= 3.2 mm, EL= 9.1 mm, EW= 2.7 mm. Ratios PL/PW= 0.87, HW/PW= 0.93 and EL/EW= 3.2</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Head and pronotum yellow to reddish brown, pronotum sometimes with black colored boarder at base and apex. Elytra black, median transverse band yellow and rounded towards suture. Elytra apex with yellow band. Elytral epipleura yellow from mid to apex. Shape and size of median elytral band vary. Legs completely yellow.</p> <p> <b>Comments.</b> <i>P. (S.) hilaris sobrinus</i> is similar to <i>P. (S.) africanus</i> (Dejean 1825) except for its lighter color (yellowish brown), smaller in size and elytral epipleura pale with fine tubercles, but almost always without visible setae. <i>P. (S.) africanus</i> possesses black elytral epipleura with more or less distinctive seta-bearing tubercles; <i>P. hilaris hilaris</i> is characterised by pale epipleura with fine tubercles, whereas, <i>P. hilaris sobrinus</i> has more or less yellow epipleura. Both subspecies show the epipleura with fine tubercles but always without setae (Felix et al. 2012).</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> The specimens of this species were collected from Rawalpindi, Chakwal and Peshawar. Previously, it was reported from India (Andrewes 1930), Poonch Azad Jummu Kashmir (Rahim et al. 2013), Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (Anichtchenko 2016) and Yemen (Felix et al. 2012).</p>Published as part of <i>Ullah, Mishkat, Naeem, Muhammad, Mahmood, Khalid & Rafi, Muhammad Ather, 2017, Faunistic studies of the tribe Brachinini (Carabidae: Coleoptera) from northern Pakistan, pp. 173-184 in Zootaxa 4232 (2)</i> on pages 180-182, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4232.2.2, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/292888">http://zenodo.org/record/292888</a&gt

Pheropsophus (Stenaptinus) lissoderus Chaudoir 1850

<i>Pheropsophus (Stenaptinus) lissoderus</i> Chaudoir, 1850 <p>Figure 3 (d)</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> Islamabad Capital Territory, Islamabad, Faisal Mosque, Trail No. 6, 1 ♀ & 1 ♂, 13.iv.2014; Islamabad, Quaid-i-Azam University, Village Rumli, 1 ♀ & 1 ♂, 21.iii.2015, Mishkat (PMNH). Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Butgram, 1 ♀, 24.vii.1988, L. A. Abro (PMNH). Azad Jummu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Hattiyan Dupata, 2 ♀, 25.iv.2016; Neelum Valley, Kahori, 1 ♂, 25.iv.2016 Mishkat (PMNH).</p> <p> <b>Measurements.</b> Male (n=3): TL= 15.97 mm, HW= 2.95 mm, PL= 3.02 mm, PW= 3.18 mm, EL= 9.62 mm, EW= 3.04 mm. Ratios PL/PW= 0.94, HW/PW= 0.92 and EL/EW= 3.04</p> <p>Female (n=5): TL= 15.74 mm, HW= 2.80 mm, PL= 2.90 mm, PW= 2.98 mm, EL= 9.30 mm, EW= 2.88 mm. Ratios PL/PW= 0.97, HW/PW= 0.93 and EL/EW= 3.22</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Head reddish brown, antenna yellowish brown. Pronotum reddish brown, square shaped, impunctate and smooth. Pronotum lateral bead black. Elytra black, humeral mark yellow, median transverse band yellow more angular at edges slightly dilated at eighth elytral interval. Elytral epipleura black. Apical elytral band yellow. Legs yellow, femora apical ends (knees) black.</p> <p> <b>Comments.</b> This species shows the same coloration of head, pronotum and elytra than <i>P. (S.) catoirei</i>. Differences include pronotum smooth, impunctate and square shaped in <i>P. (S.) lissoderus</i>. Elytorn humeral mark large and longitudinal, median transverse band strongly serrated at edges, apical transverse band yellow from interval 2-7 in <i>P. (S.) lissoderus</i>. Legs yellow with black knees while entirely yellow in <i>P. catoirei</i>.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> This species was collected from Islamabad and Butgram. Previously, it was recorded from Bhutan, China (Xizang, Tibet) and India (Anichtchenko 2016).</p>Published as part of <i>Ullah, Mishkat, Naeem, Muhammad, Mahmood, Khalid & Rafi, Muhammad Ather, 2017, Faunistic studies of the tribe Brachinini (Carabidae: Coleoptera) from northern Pakistan, pp. 173-184 in Zootaxa 4232 (2)</i> on pages 182-183, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4232.2.2, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/292888">http://zenodo.org/record/292888</a&gt