National Zoological Collection Research Articles

Taxonomic review of the genus Lemyra Walker (Erebidae: Arctiinae) from India

In the present manuscript, we review the genus Lemyra Walker, 1856 from India by examining the specimens collected freshly from different parts of India from 2016 to 2019 and from the National Zoological Collection of the Zoological Survey of India (NZCZSI). The revised status of Lemyra in India is presented by describing seven new species: Lemyra (Thyrgorina) rubripecta sp. nov., L. (T.) densimacula sp. nov., L. (T.) fortiorspina sp. nov., L. (T.) apatani sp. nov., L. (T.) adunca sp. nov., L. (T.) obsoleta sp. nov. and L. (T.) pinus sp. nov., synonymizing equal number of species: L. (T.) punctilinea (Moore, 1879), syn. nov. under L. (T.) flavalis (Moore, 1865), L. (T.) magnaproteus N. Singh & Kirti, 2016, syn. nov. under L. (T.) proteus (De Joannis, 1928), Thanatarctia costalis Kaleka, 2012: 51, syn. nov., Thanatarctia collarlis Kaleka, 2012: 53, syn. nov., L. (T.) collarlis N. Singh, Kirti & Kaleka, 2016: 15, syn. nov. (objective synonym of T. collarlis Kaleka, 2012), L. (T.) pseudocollarlis N. Singh, Kirti & Kaleka, 2016: 16, syn. nov. under L. (T.) nigrescens (Rothschild, 1910) and L. (T.) angularis (Strand, 1919) under L. (T.) spilosomata (Walker, [1865]). The status of L. (T.) aurantiaca (Fang, 1985), a new record to India, is upgraded to species level. Additionally, two species i.e., L. (T.) kaikarisi Saldaitis et al., 2019 and L. (T.) persephone Saldaitis et al., 2020 are reported for the first time from India. An updated checklist of 117 species (including the nominotypical subspecies) and 10 subspecies of Lemyra is provided with 48 species (including the new records and new species described herein) from India. Of the 48 species from India, the systematics of 42 species is provided based on their voucher specimens. We could not study the rest of the six species with their voucher specimens. The detailed diagnoses with closely similar congeners, genitalia illustrations, distributions, individual variations and sexual dimorphism, if any, and bionomics is provided.

Taxonomic notes on the crab spider genus Oxytate L. Koch, 1878 (Araneae: Thomisidae) from India.

Type specimens of poorly known Indian Oxytate species deposited in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, and the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), Paris are re-examined and described. Oxytate subvirens (Strand, 1907) is recorded for the first time from India and the current distribution of the genus in India is also mapped.

New state records of some Dermaptera De Geer, 1773 (Insecta) species in India

The insect order Dermaptera is globally composed of approximately 2,000 species distributed over 245 genera and 16 families, of which approximately 285 species composed within 72 genera and 16 families are known from India until now. A recent examination of some unidentified Dermaptera species housed in the National Zoological Collection of the Zoological Survey of India revealed new state records for six Dermaptera species in India. All the six species are dealt herein with material examined, diagnostic characters, distribution, remarks, and photographs of adult male and female, penultimate sternite and ultimate tergite with forceps, and male genitalia.

Deciphering mysteries: On the identity of five enigmatic jumping spiders from Northeast India, China and Philippines (Araneae, Salticidae)

The type specimens of salticid species from Northeast India described by B. K. Biswas and K. Biswas kept in the National Zoological Collections, Kolkata were studied. Four new synonyms are recognized: Marpissa mizoramensis Biswas & Biswas, 2007 syn. nov. and Evarcha optabilis (Fox, 1937) syn. nov. with Evarcha flavocincta (C.L. Koch, 1846), and Phidippus tirapensis Biswas & Biswas, 2006 syn. nov. and Hyllus maskaranus Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 syn. nov. with Hyllus diardi (Walckenaer, 1837). A new combination is proposed: Pancorius manipuriensis (Biswas & Biswas, 2007) comb. nov. (ex. Marpissa). P. manipuriensis is illustrated for the first time and redescribed based on the type material. Detailed digital illustrations of the examined type material and distributional map are also provided.

New state records of longhorn beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) from Meghalaya, India

We report the range extension of 11 species of Cerambycidae fauna into Meghalaya, northeastern India, based on our studies on the unidentified specimens of longhorn beetles deposited in the National Zoological Collection of the Zoological Survey of India, Shillong. These 11 species under 11 genera, nine tribes, and three subfamilies increases the known Cerambycidae diversity in Meghalaya from 81 species to 92 species.

Notes on Indian wolf spiders: I. Genus Evippa Simon, 1882 (Araneae: Lycosidae, Evippinae).

Indian wolf spider species of the genus Evippa Simon, 1882 based on the type material available in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata are revised. One new synonymy is recognised: Evippa mandlaensis Gajbe, 2004 syn. nov. is synonymised with Wadicosa fidelis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872). All the type material examined are imaged and supplementary descriptions for Evippa shivajii Tikader Malhotra, 1980, Evippa sohani Tikader Malhotra, 1980, and Evippa solanensis Tikader Malhotra, 1980 are provided.

Description of a new species of Zeuxevania Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae) from India with a key to species.

BackgroundTaxonomy and diversity of Evaniidae from India have not been studied in depth and hosts of many species are unknown. Out of 31 world genera, only five genera (Evania Fab., Prosevania Kieffer, Szepligetella Bradley, Vernevania Huben & Deans and Zeuxevania Kieffer) are reported from India. Based on the collection deposited in the Hymenoptera section of Zoological Survey of India (National Zoological Collection), here we are describing a new species of the genus Zeuxevania.New informationA new evaniid species Zeuxevania hubeni sp. nov. is described, based on a female specimen collected from Kadaludi Bird Sanctuary, Kerala, India. The new species is compared with Z. curvicarinata (Cameron), as well as Z. kasauliensis (Muzaffer) and a key to Indian species, based on females, is provided. The type specimen is deposited in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India.

Descriptions of two new species of Zeuxevania Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae) from India

Two new evaniid species, Zeuxevania hayati Rameshkumar & Kazmi sp. nov. and Z. bengalensis Rameshkumar & Kazmi sp. nov. are described from Assam and West Bengal, states of India respectively. The type specimens are deposited in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India.

Revision of Indian wolf spiders: I. Genus Arctosa C.L. Koch, 1847 (Araneae: Lycosidae, Tricassinae)

Indian species in the wolf spider genus Arctosa C.L. Koch, 1847 are revised based on the type material deposited in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, Entomology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, and Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna. Arctosa tappaensis Gajbe, 2004 is proposed as a junior synonym of Arctosa himalayensis Tikader & Malhotra, 1980. Arctosa quinquedens Dhali, Roy, Sen, Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2012 is provisionally transferred to Ovia Sankaran, Malamel & Sebastian, 2017 and Arctosa mulani (Dyal, 1935) is considered as species inquirenda. Digital images of all the examined type material are presented and supplementary descriptions for A. himalayensis, Arctosa indica Tikader & Malhotra, 1980 and Arctosa khudiensis (Sinha, 1951) are provided.

A review of the genus Sphingius Thorell, 1890 from India (Araneae: Liocranidae)

Indian species in the genus Sphingius Thorell, 1890 are revised, mostly based on the type material available in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Sphingius barkudensis Gravely, 1931, S. nilgiriensis Gravely, 1931 and S. paltaensis Biswas & Biswas, 1992 are redescribed. Two new combinations and one new synonymy are recognised: S. longipes Gravely, 1931 is transferred to the cithaeronid genus Inthaeron Platnick, 1991 and S. kambakamensis Gravely, 1931 is transferred to the corinnid genus Cambalida Simon, 1909, while S. delakharae Pawaria, Bodkhe, Kamble, Uniyal & Talwar, 2018 syn. nov. is synonymised with S. barkudensis. Images of all the examined type material are provided.

On the taxonomic validity of Indian ground spiders: IV. Genera Apodrassodes Vellard, 1924, Herpyllus Hentz, 1832 and Sergiolus Simon, 1892 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)

ABSTRACT The Indian spider species of the genera Apodrassodes, Herpyllus and Sergiolus are revised, mostly based on the type material available in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. The following new combinations are recognised: Coillina yogeshi comb. nov., transferred from Apodrassodes, Scotophaeus goaensis comb. nov. and Zelotes calcuttaensis comb. nov., both transferred from Herpyllus, Hitobia lamhetaghatensis comb. nov., Hitobia meghalayensis comb. nov., Hitobia poonaensis comb. nov., Hitobia singhi comb. nov. and Poecilochroa khodiar comb. nov., all transferred from Sergiolus. The Chinese species Coillina baka syn. nov. is synonymised with C. yogeshi comb. nov. All images of the examined type material as well as supplementary descriptions are provided.

The species of the genus Plator Simon, 1880 in India (Araneae: Trochanteriidae).

Plator species described in India are revised based on the type materials deposited in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Five species are known in India, of which three are known only from females while the remaining two are from both sexes. All the type materials examined are imaged and redescribed.

A review of the Indian species formerly assigned to the genus Storena Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae: Zodariidae) with the description of a new genus

Indian spider species currently assigned to Storena Walckenaer, 1805 are revised mostly based on the type material available in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. A new genus, Laminion gen. nov. is proposed to include four species; three are transferred from Storena: Laminion arakuensis (Patel & Reddy, 1989) gen. et comb. nov., Laminion birenifer (Gravely, 1921) gen. et comb. nov. and Laminion debasrae (Biswas & Biswas, 1992) gen. et comb. nov., whereas the fourth species is from Suffasia Jocqué, 1991: Laminion gujaratensis (Tikader & Patel, 1975) gen. et comb. nov. The species Storena tikaderi Patel & Reddy, 1989 syn. nov. is synonymised with L. birenifer gen. et comb. nov. Storena dibangensis Biswas & Biswas, 2006 and Storena indica Tikader & Patel, 1975 are transferred to Mallinella Strand, 1906. All the type material examined are imaged and redescribed. In addition, images of the type material of Storenomorpha joyaus (Tikader, 1970) are presented.

On the taxonomic validity of Indian ground spiders: II. Genera Drassyllus Chamberlin, 1922 and Nodocion Chamberlin, 1922 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)

Indian species of Drassyllus and Nodocion are revised, mostly based on the type material available in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. All the Indian representatives of the former genus are transferred to Cryptodrassus, with a synonymy of Drassyllus jabalpurensis syn. nov. with Cryptodrassus khajuriai comb. nov., while the Indian species of the latter genus are transferred to Setaphis, with a provisional transfer of Nodocion solanensis. All the examined type specimens are imaged and supplementary descriptions are provided.

Tryphactothrips rutherfordi (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera, Panchaetothripinae): first description of the male.

The subfamily Panchaetothripinae (family Thripidae) is represented by 140 species under 40 genera (Thrips Wiki 2019). In India, 36 species under 16 genera are recorded (Tyagi Kumar 2016, Tyagi et al. 2017, Rachana and Varatharajan, 2018, Johnson et al. 2019). The members of this subfamily are leaf-feeders and usually dark brown in colour with strongly reticulate sculpture on body, terminal antennal segments needle-shaped, tarsi 1- or 2-segmented, fore wing upper vein fused with costa. The genus Tryphactothrips was established by Bagnall (1919), and this genus remains monobasic with only Dinurothrips rutherfordi Bagnall from Sri Lanka as the type species. The genus Tryphactothrips can be distinguished from related genera by the presence of sculptured round areolae on abdominal segments. It is closely related to Anisopilothrips Stannard Mitri but can be identified by paired sigmoidal setae on abdominal tergites (absent in Anisopilothrips), mesonotum without complete median longitudinal split (complete median longitudinal in Anisopilothrips). Recently, a series of both sexes of Tryphactothrips rutherfordi with banded fore wings was collected on fern from Kerala state of India. Females were identified using published keys (Wilson 1975), and the male is here described for the first time. DNA was isolated from the studied specimens and partial fragment of mtCOI gene was amplified and sequenced (Tyagi et al. 2017). Four sequences were submitted in the GenBank (Accession No. MN627201 to MN627204). Photographs and illustrations were taken through a Leica Trinocular Microscope (Leica DM-1000) using Leica software application suite (LAS EZ 2.1.0). The studied specimens were deposited in the National Zoological Collections (NZC), Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India.

Illustrated catalogue of types of Ampullariidae Gray, 1824 (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the National Zoological Collection of the Zoological Survey of India, with lectotype designations

Malacological research in India has a long and productive history going back to the early 19th century, initially promoted by the Asiatic Society of Bengal and with significant material, including type material, deposited in the Indian Museum in Kolkata. Following the birth of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in 1916, the Museum’s collecting activities and care for the collections themselves became the responsibility of the ZSI. The ZSI holds important collections of freshwater snails in the family Ampullariidae, including type material of taxa collected and described in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This catalogue brings together information about these types, including for each taxon: bibliographic details of the original description, current taxonomic status, details of the type locality and type material, dimensions and illustrations of type specimens, and additional information as deemed necessary or interesting. The catalogue provides this information for 10 taxa, including four valid species and six junior synonyms. Two published names of subvarieties are listed but these are nomenclaturally unavailable. Lectotypes are designated for three taxa to stabilise the names.

Rediscovery and re-description of Rhaphaulus assamicus Godwin-Austen, 1886, an endemic pupinid land snail from India (Gastropoda: Pupinidae)

ABSTRACT Indian land snails comprise about 1130 species that are distributed throughout the Indian landscape in diverse habitats. However, most of the Indian land snail species have only been recorded from their type locality, with a minimal description, and have not been reported thereafter. In this paper, the endemic pupinid land snail Rhaphaulus assamicus Godwin-Austen, 1886 has been re-described for the first time since it was reported 132 years ago. This species was known previously from the original type locality in Brahmakund, Arunachal Pradesh, in the Eastern Himalaya of India, and the present report from Namdapha National Park supports the occurrence of the species in a similar landscape. We provide a re-description of the shell of this species based on high-resolution photomicrographs and discuss possible habitat requirements. Abbreviations: asl: above sea level; Coll.: collector; NNP: Namdapha National Park; NZSI: National Zoological Collection of the Zoological Survey of India; Reg. No.: registration number; ZSI: Zoological Survey of India.

The genus Mustilizans Yang, 1995 (Lepidoptera: Endromidae) in India with the description of a new species.

A new species of the family Endromidae, Mustilizans zolotuhini sp. nov. is described from Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, India. The subspecies, Mustilizans dierli refugialis Zolotuhin, 2007 is recorded for the first time from Sikkim, India. The distribution of the species known from India is mapped. The holotype of the new species is deposited in the Lepidoptera Section, National Zoological Collections, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.

New synonymies and transfers in Castianeira Keyserling, 1879 (Araneae, Corinnidae, Castianeirinae) from India.

Indian species in the castianeirine genus Castianeira Keyserling, 1879 (Corinnidae) are partly revised based on type materials deposited in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Two new synonyms are recognized: Castianeira himalayensis Gravely, 1931 syn. nov. is synonymised with Corinnomma severum (Thorell, 1877), and Castianeira bengalensis Biswas, 1984 syn. nov. with the liocranid species Oedignatha scrobiculata Thorell, 1881. Castianeira albopicta Gravely, 1931 is considered as a nomen dubium. Castianeira adhartali Gajbe, 2003 and Castianeira indica Tikader, 1981 are transferred to Oedignatha Thorell, 1881 (Liocranidae). The taxonomic status of both Castianeira tinae Patel Patel, 1973 and Castianeira quadrimaculata Reimoser, 1934 is discussed. All the examined type materials are illustrated, and the current status of the type material of each species is discussed.

A new species from the genus Astochia Becker, 1913 (Diptera: Asilidae) from the Sundarban, India with an updated checklist of Indian species

ABSTRACTA new asilid species Astochia venkataramani sp. nov. is described with supportive illustrations of male genitalia and body parts, from Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, West Bengal, India. An updated checklist of the Indian species of Astochia Becker is also included. The holotype specimen of the new species has been deposited in the National Zoological Collections of Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. An updated identification key to the species of Astochia from West Bengal is also provided.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D36A20CC-9D56-4050-912E-2E846D5F6E91