Saima Naz — новинки

The suborder Ischnocera (Phthiraptera) comprises two families, family Philopteridae Burmeister and family Trichodectidae Kellogg. They have highly diversified forms of body, chaetotaxy and sizes. The members of Trichdectidae are exclusively mammalian parasites, whereas philopterids are truly avian parasites with high level of host specificity. In the Karachi Region, Philopterid genera have been surveyed out in the present work. The representatives of genera Anaticola, Brueelia, Campanulotes, Chelopistes, Columbicola, Cuclotogaster, Goniocotes, Goniodes, Lipeurus, Neopsittaconirmus and Sturnidoecus are included and described here with special emphasis is given to the structure and arrangement of setae and genitalia of male and female where available. The results are compared with findings reported in the existing literature. All the taxa are compared with their closest allies, and keys to the genera and species are formulated on the basis of reliable characters, which help readily identify the taxa.

A detailed morphological study of two new species of Phthiraptera have been described. One belongs to the genus Heleonomus (Amblycera: Menoponidae), from common cranes, Grus grus (Gruiformes: Gruidae) and the other new species of the genus Chelopistes (Ischnocera: Philopteridae) from common turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (Galliformes: Phasianidae) were recorded from Pakistan. These chewing lice species have been taxonomically enlightened and illustrated with respect to the chaetotaxy and male and female genitalia features. It is a new record of the genus Heleonomus in Pakistan. Both the species have also been compared with their closest allies.

Members of the family Elateridae commonly known as Click-Beetles and their larvae called Wire Worm. They are widely distributed all over the World, They are taxonomically difficult group and having ecological and economical importance. Adults are usually nocturnal hiding during day time under stones, in leaf litter, or under the bark and attracted to light. Several species are diurnal and can be found upon flowers. Body elongate, antennae long, usually11- segmented, labrum exposed, hind pronotal angles well developed, procoxal cavity open both internally and externally, posterior margin of prosternum elongated to form prosternal spine form the characteristic Jump-Click mechanism. Jumping mechanism without legs support is a unique character of adult elaterid. Most of larvae are predators; they are elongate, cylindrical to flattened body. In the present work, a contribution towards the knowledge about Elateridae of Pakistan, mainly agrypnids (Agrypninae: Agrypnini, Conoderini, Hemirhipini) have been studied.