Ahmed Zia

Faunistics of Tiger Beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) from Pakistan

Abstract 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.

Evaluating Insects as Bioindicators of Heavy Metal Contamination and Accumulation near Industrial Area of Gujrat, Pakistan

To study the accumulation and contamination of heavy metals (i.e., Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn) in soil, air, and water, few insect species were assayed as ecological indicators. Study area comes under industrial zone of district Gujrat of Punjab, Pakistan. Insects used as bioindicators included a libellulid dragonfly (Crocothemis servilia), an acridid grasshopper (Oxya hyla hyla), and a nymphalid butterfly (Danaus chrysippus) near industrial zone of Gujrat. Accumulation of Cd was highest in insect species followed by Cu, Cr, Zn, and Ni at p < 0.05. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HACA) was carried out to study metal accumulation level in all insects. Correlation and regression analysis confirmed HACA observations and declared concentration of heavy metals above permissible limits. Metal concentrations in insects were significantly higher near industries and nallahs in Gujrat and relatively higher concentrations of metals were found in Orthoptera than Odonata and Lepidoptera. The total metal concentrations in insects were pointed significantly higher at sites S3 (Mid of HalsiNala), S9 (End of HalsiNala), and S1 (Start of HalsiNala), whereas lowest value was detected at site S6 (Kalra Khasa) located far from industrial area. HACA indicates that these insect groups are potential indicators of metal contamination and can be used in biomonitoring.

Damselflies (Zygoptera: Odonata) of Pakistan: Part 1

Abstract The present study is an effort to document bio-geographical distribution for Zygoptera of Pakistan. Damselflies were collected throughout the country and territory of Azad Jammu and Kashmir during 2004–2009. A total of 2692 specimens were collected yielding 9 families, 21 genera, and 48 species and subspecies. Three of these species, Libellago lineata lineata (Burmeister), Elattoneura atkinsoni (Selys), and Elattoneura souteri (Fraser), are recorded for the first time from Pakistan. Distribution, habitats, previous records, and Zoogeographic affiliation for all collected taxa are discussed. Help was also taken from published literature on Zygoptera of Pakistan, and specimens housed at National Insect Museum were also studied. In total, 53 species are accounted for providing an updated record for all modern taxa of damselfly fauna of Pakistan.

The vespid fauna of Pakistan

This study provides the first annotated check list of the Vespidae of Pakistan. It is based on the National Insect Museum collection and various studies in Pakistan. Among 105 identified taxa, 77 species and 28 subspecies are recorded in the four subfamilies Eumeninae, Masarinae, Polistinae and Vespinae. Three new records for the fauna of Pakistan are added, namely Anterhynchium mellyi, Antepipona ovalis and Eumenes coronatus coronatus. Among the total, 12 species/subspecies are endemic to Pakistan, namely Ancistrocerus pakistanus, Antepipona luteipes, Antodynerus flavescens karachiensis, Celonites nursei, Cyrtolabulus karachiensis, Eustenancistrocerus (Parastenancistrocerus) baluchistanensis, Katamenes dimidiatus watsoni, Knemodynerus lahorensis, Leptochilus (Neoleptochilus) hina, Leptochilus (Neoleptochilus) mirificus, Leptochilus (Neoleptochilus) umerolatus and Tachyancistrocerus pakistanus. Antepipona varentzowi (Morawitz, 1896) and Polistes rothneyi quatei van der Vecht, 1968 were incorrectly reported from Pakistan.

Faunistic Study of Hover Flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) of Pakistan

Abstract The present study is based mainly on specimens of syrphid flies collected in Pakistan during country-wide surveys made from 2009 to 2014. These results are supplemented by known records of Syrphidae of Pakistan documented by various authorities earlier. These results yielded 71 species of 40 genera from Pakistan. Of these, 11 species viz., Paramixogaster contractus (Brunetti, 1923) Eoseristalis albibasis (Bigot, 1880), Mesembrius quadrivittatus (Wiedemann, 1819), Eumerus nepalensis Brunetti, 1908, Eumerus sexvittatus Brunetti, 1915, Psilota cyanea Hill, 1921, Volucella peleterii Macquart, 1834 Volucella ruficauda Brunetti, 1907, Chrysotoxum antiquum Walker, 1852, Syrphus vitripennis Meigen, 1822 and Xanthogramma pedissequum (Harris, 1776), are first records for Pakistan.

The biogeography of pierids butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in Potohar region of Pakistan

Abstract From Potohar region of Pakistan pierids butterflies and their biogeographical affiliation were studied during January 2012–February 2015. Of the species found, 10 namely (Delias eucharis, Pontia daplidice, Anaphaeis aurota, Belenois aurota, Pieris rapae, Pieris canidia, Pieris brassicae, Ixias pyrene, Colotis amata, Colotis etrida and Colotis protractus) belonged to subfamily Pierinae, while subfamily Coliadinae represented seven species i.e. (Catopsilia pyranthe, Catopsilia pomona, Gonepteryx nepalensis, Colias fieldii, Colias erate, Eurema laeta, and Eurema hecabe.) Out of 17 reported species, 5 (Colotis amata, Colotis etrida, Colotis protractus Anaphaeis aurota = Belenois aurota and Delias eucharis) species were new records for the pierid fauna of Potohar region. However, one species i.e. Gonepteryx nepalensis was already recorded from Pakistan as G. mahaguru or G. rhamni (wrong determination). Biogeographical affiliations of pierids butterflies in Potohar region indicated that pierid fauna of this region is affiliated with four biogeographical regions except to the Nearctic Neotropical region. The Oriental and Palearctic are dominant. However, the Afrotropical and the Australian elements are also present with good representation.

Calicnemia fortis sp. nov. from Pakistan (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae) .

Calicnemia fortis sp. nov. is described from Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Pakistan and compared with other group 2 species of Calicnemia.