Muhammad Ather Rafi

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

Abstract 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.

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.

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 hawkmoth fauna of Pakistan (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae).

This study represents the first complete modern account of the Sphingidae of Pakistan and takes the form of an annotated checklist, based on several national collections and those of a number of individuals. Of the 60 species and subspecies found, 14 are new records to the fauna of Pakistan, namely Agnosia orneus, Langia zenzeroides subsp. zenzeroides, Polyptychus trilineatus subsp. trilineatus, Dolbina inexacta, Ambulyx sericeipennis subsp. sericeipennis, Thamnoecha uniformis, Macroglossum belis, Macroglossum stellatarum, Cechetra scotti, Hippotion boerhaviae, Hyles euphorbiae subsp. euphorbiae, Rhagastis olivacea, Rethera brandti subsp. euteles and Theretra latreillii subsp. lucasii. Anambulyx elwesi subsp. kitchingi and Clanis deucalion subsp. thomaswitti are not recognised as valid subspecies and are synonymized with their respective nominotypical subspecies. An additional list is given of 30 taxa which may yet be found in Pakistan as they are present in neighbouring countries close to the border. Of the species/subspecies found, 24 are part of the Palaearctic fauna, 27 are part of the Oriental fauna and nine are Palaeo-Oriental/Palaeotropical. This reconfirms the transitional biogeographical position of the Pakistan fauna.

A new species of Stenodynerus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) from Pakistan

A new species of Eumeninae, Stenodynerus punjabensis Qasim, Carpenter et Rafi, is described from Pakistan. A key to the Stenodynerus species of Pakistan is also included.

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 studies of the tribe Brachinini (Carabidae: Coleoptera) from northern Pakistan

A faunistic study of the tribe Brachinini from northern Pakistan was carried out including extensive fieldwork collections and specimens housed in the Insect Repository, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Islamabad and the National Insect Museum, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad. Ten species belonging to three genera were identified from the study area, including four new records for Pakistan, Brachinus (Brachinus) ejaculans Fischer Von Waldheim, 1828, Brachinus (Neobrachinus) pallidipes Reitter, 1919, Pheropsophus (Stenaptinus) consularis (Schmidt-Goebel, 1846) and Pheropsophus (Stenaptinus) lineifrons Chaudoir, 1850. A key for these species is provided. A new combination is proposed for Brachinus (Brachynolomus) pallidipes Reitter, 1919, namely Brachinus (Neobrachinus) pallidipes Reitter, 1919, comb. nov.

Checklist of ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) deposited in National Insect Museum of Pakistan

Abstract This paper presents the result of investigation of the ground beetles specimens that are stored in the National Insect Museum of Pakistan. A total of 38 species were identified, 12 species – Chlaenius (Chlaeniostenus) pulcher Nietner, 1857, Chlaenius (Chlaeniellus) koenigi Semenov, 1888, Chlaenius (Amblygenius) pretiosus Chaudoir, 1856, Chlaenius (Chlaenius) lafertei Guerin-Meneville, 1843, Chlaenius (Rhysotrachelus) nepalensis Hope, 183, Chlaenius (Chlaeniellus) cookei Andrewes, 1933, Loxoncus (Loxoncus) procerus (Schaum, 1858), Heteracantha depressa Brulle, 1834, Anomostomus orientalis Andrewes, 1923, Sericoda lissoptera (Chaudoir, 1854), Galerita (Galerita) orientalis Schmidt-Goebel, 1846, Anthia (Termophilum) duodecimguttata Bonelli, 1813 – are reported from Pakistan for the first time; in addition, the occurrence of several species in Pakistan was confirmed.

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.