BIODIVERSITY AND SYSTEMATIC STUDIES OF THE LEAFHOPPER (CICADELLIDAE: HEMIPTERA) FAUNA OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2019-07
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Himachal Pradesh is one of the hubs of biological diversity with varied agro climatic
conditions and elevation ranging from 350 to 7000m amsl. The congenial atmospheric conditions are
the natural abode and homeland for large number of insects. Despite being one of the most diverse
habitats, several insect families remain poorly studied in the state. Cicadellidae one of the largest
insect families of order Hemiptera distributed worldwide is one among them. The diversity, species
richness, abundance and distribution pattern os f leafhopper speciein all the four agro-climatic zones
of the state was explored. The sweep net as well as light traps were used for collecting leafhoppers
from all the 12 districts of the state covering 25 locations. A total of 85 leafhoppers species belonging
to 61 genera of 12 subfamilies of Cicadellidae were recorded. Of these four species, Gurawa
monorcephala Pruthi, Leofa pulchellus Distant, Olidiana kirkaldyi (Walker) and Paralimnellus
cingulatus (Dlabola) from subfamilies appeared to be new records from Himachal Pradesh and one
species, Pseudosubhimalus sp. 1 was recorded to be new from India. Species richness of leafhopper
species increased with the altitude with a hump of the highest species richness as well as diversity in
the mid hills zone (651-1800m amsl) following declining trend towards the cold dry zone.
Morphological characters taken under consideration for identification of leafhopper species which
included: crown, face, compound eyes, ocelli, frontoclypeus, pronotum, scutellum, hind tarsi, hind
tibial spinulation, forewing appendix and venation. The male genitalia was the key and the most
important taxonomic feature for species identification based on the variation in distinguished features
of pygofer, valve, subgenital plate, style, connective and aedeagus. Checklist for the leafhopper
species of Cicadellidae collected from all the four agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh was
prepared along with the lists of economically important leafhopper species that are well known pests
of crops as well as vectors of serious plant pathogenic diseases. The photographs of each recorded
specimen were provided along with the diagnostic keys which were prepared for their identification.
The distribution of the species might be very useful in future to sketch good pest management
practices and policies designed specifically for the particular region. The information generated
through this study will be useful for further revision and taxonomical updating of higher level
classification of leafhopper fauna of the hill statefor their identification.
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