Sankarappan Anbalagan

Two new species of Simulium ( Gomphostilbia ) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Peninsular India with keys to Peninsular Indian members of the genus Simulium

Two new species of black flies, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) peteri sp. nov. and S. (G.) takaokai sp. nov., are described on the basis of reared adult, pupal and larval specimens collected from Peninsular India. These two new species are placed in the batoense species group within the subgenus Gomphostilbia. S. (G.) peteri sp. nov. is distinguished in the female by having a medium-sized round opening of the sensory vesicle and a large basal tooth on the claw, in the male by 12 vertical columns in the upper eye large facets, in the pupa by a ventral pair of 2 gill filaments somewhat thicker than the other filaments and in the larva by 5 hypostomal bristles per side lying parallel to the lateral margin. S. (G.) takaokai sp. nov. is characterized in the pupa by having the eight gill filaments with a medium-long common basal stalk and in the larva by the labral fan with 38 main rays and 4 hypostomal bristles on each side. Keys to 13 black fly species reported from Peninsular India are provided for females, males and pupae.

Use of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to study genetic diversity within a population of blackfly, Simulium gravelyi from Palni hills, peninsular India

The genetic variation of local subpopulations (Palni hills, India) of the blackfly Simulium gravelyi was surveyed at different altitudinal locations using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. By comparing the similarity of the bands produced by RAPDs, it may be concluded that there is variation within this population. These data suggest that the heterogeneity of band pattern of S. gravelyi steadily increased from low elevation to high elevation. Site 5 (1590 m altitude) was more polymorphic and it differed most from site 1 (290 m). This is established by the ecological diversity and statistical analyses (PCA) and predicting two major ecological factors of conductivity and current velocity. The speciation hypothesis is consistent with the molecular evidence, postulates a high elevational site 5 (1590 m) and a subsequent site 4 (1250 m).

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Southern Western Ghats, India: Two new species and DNA barcoding

Two new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) are described on the basis of reared adult, pupal and larval specimens collected from Southern Western Ghats India. The morphological data of two new species S. (Gomphostilbia) panagudiense sp. n. and S. (Gomphostilbia) kottoorense sp. n. are assigned to the batoense species group in the subgenus Gomphostilbia. S. (Gomphostilbia) panagudiense sp.n. is characterized in the female by having the scutum without longitudinal vitta and arms of the genital fork wide basally and in the pupa by the stalk of ventral pair medium-long. S. (Gomphostilbia) kottoorense sp.n. is characterized by the arm of genital fork tapered near apex in the female and style in medial view 0.63 times as long as coxite in the male. Phylogeny of members in the genus Simulium was reconstructed based on DNA barcoding gene (cytochrome oxidase c subunit I). Tree analysis using new technology and maximum likelihood analyses are congruent with evidence of two new species in the subgenus Gomphostilbia and separated from other species.

A new species of Simulium ( Gomphostilbia ) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from South India, with keys to Indian members of the subgenus Gomphostilbia

A new black fly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) cauveryense sp. n., is described based on adult female, adult male, pupal and larval specimens collected from Kushalanagar, Karnataka, South India. This new species is placed in the decuplum subgroup of the batoense species-group within the subgenus Gomphostilbia. Keys to the species of the subgenus Gomphostilbia reported from India are provided for females, males, pupae and mature larvae.

Life Cycle and Secondary Production of Four Species from Functional Feeding Groups in a Tropical Stream of South India

This study focused on life strategies of species from functional feeding groups (FFGs) found in a tropical stream of the Sirumalai hills, South India. We examined the life cycle and secondary production of species of shredders (Lepidostoma nuburagangai), scrapers (Baetis sp.), collectors (Choroterpes alagarensis), and predators (Neoperla biseriata). In addition, we studied the assemblage structure of functional feeding groups. We found the collectors occupied the highest percentage, followed in turn by scrapers, predators, and shredders. The diversity of FFGs was higher at riffle areas and assemblage with stream substrates differing in each functional group. An asynchronous life cycle was observed for Baetis, C. alagarensis, and N. biseriata, while L. nuburagangai was found in four to five generations per year. We acquired data on secondary production of scraper species of Baetis, which reached the highest values among all investigated species. This observation stresses the importance of scrapers as playing a key role in converting coarse particulate organic matter to fine particulate organic matter with low or high abundances of shredder population and maintaining the food chain in tropical streams.

A new species of Prosopistoma Latreille, 1833 (Ephemeroptera: Prosopistomatidae) from South India.

A new species of Prosopistoma (Ephemeroptera: Prosopistomatidae) is described on the basis of mature nymphs from Coorg, Karnataka, South India. Prosopistoma coorgum, new species can be readily distinguished from the other members of Prosopistoma by the following combination of characters: inner margin of outer canine near apex with 2-3 short spines, the length ratio of maxillary palp segments (3.3:4.8:1), ventral margin of fore tibia with 6-8 pectinate setae, and gill II leaf-like and cleft.