Aijaz Wachkoo

• Ph. D (NET CSIR; NET ICAR)
• PostDoc Position at University of Kashmir

A catalog of the species and subspecies of Neuropterida (Insecta: Neuroptera, Megaloptera, and Raphidioptera) occurring in modern India is presented, based primarily on an extensive review of relevant literature published through mid 2024. The currently known extant fauna comprises 3 orders, 15 families, 129 genera, 368 species, and 6 subspecies (N...

Based solely on the holotype, different information sources indicate the possible presence of Criorhina vivida Brunetti, 1923 in India and Pakistan. However, none of them confirm this scenario. In this study, we confirm the occurrence of the species in India, and provide first description of the male. Additionally, we provide information on distrib...

On page 78, Figure 1 was inadvertently flawed; the correct figure is provided here. Demarcation of boundaries are for biological references only.

A catalog of the species of Asilidae occurring in modern India is provided, based primarily on an extensive review of relevant literature. We report nine subfamilies, 60 valid genera and 478 valid species present in India; 368 species (77%) of the fauna, are currently only known from India and may be endemic, while 27 more species have been removed...

The genus Spilomyia (Insecta, Diptera, Syrphidae) consists of 39 species worldwide. One species previously listed from South Asia as Spilomyia manicata (Rondani, 1865), is herein described as a new species, Spilomyia recta van Steenis, Maqbool & Wachkoo sp. n. The new taxon represents the only valid species of Spilomyia from India and Pakistan and...

Honeybees are social insects, as they live together in large, well-organized family groups and comprise of three castes: queen (fertile female), workers (sterile females) and drones (males). During honey flow season there is considerable increase in the foraging activity of the workers and in the rate of egg laying by the queen. Sex determination i...

Honey bees are well-established social pollinators that play a vital role in the biodiversity and ecological balance of the ecosystem. Honey bees are haploid organisms, and the mechanism of sex determination is dependent on the complementary sex determinants (CSD) locus, in which the sexes are determined by the haploid–diploid sex determination sys...

Beeswax is a naturally occurring substance produced by the wax glands of the species Apis mellifera and Apis cerana, while the upper part of the digestive tract of the honey bee and blossom nectar are the sources of honey. Beeswax is a component that makes up a honeycomb's structure, which bees produce in order to construct the structures in which...

Honey bees are hymenopteran eusocial insects that live in colonies. Each colony comprises one queen, several hundred drones and thousands of workers. The honey bees are prone to invasion by a wide range of disease-causing agents and colony-debilitating insects and mites. The diseases are usually caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa. Some...

Abstract Hemilea hyalina Wang, 1998, previously known from China, is newly recorded from India. The first description of the female and detailed figures of habitus and genitalia are provided. The new records are also the first from outside the type locality.

The wasp genus Ampulicomorpha Ashmead, 1893 (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea: Embolemidae) is widely distributed in all zoogeographical regions, but had so far not been recorded from India. Here, we provide the first Indian record of the genus with A. nepalensis Olmi, 1997, a species previously reported from Nepal, Vietnam, and Tajikistan.

A review of the genus Stratiomys from India is presented. The new species Stratiomys brunettii sp. nov. is described based on male and female specimens collected from the Kashmir Himalayas. The only other congener previously recorded in India, Stratiomys approximata, is redescribed. A key to the species is presented.

The ant genus Vollenhovia Mayr, 1865 (Myrmicinae, Crematogastrini) mostly occurs in the Australasian and Oriental regions. We revised its diversity in India and Sri Lanka based on qualitative and quantitative morphology, recognizing eleven taxa, including a new species which is described herewith: V. escherichi Forel, 1911, V. gastropunctata Bharti...

We report Myathropa semenovi (Smirnov, 1925) for the first time from India. This species was previously known from Central Asia and adjacent parts of Siberia. Recently collected specimens from the Kashmir Himalayas of India represent the first reported occurrence of this flower fly genus from India. Images and diagnosis are provided to help with th...

Three new species in the Tetramorium tortuosum group, T. alii, T. binghami and T. hitagarciai, are described and illustrated from the Western Ghats, India. In addition, information on the remaining six know species in this group — T. belgaense Forel, 1902, T. keralense Sheela & Narendran, 1998, T. pilosum Emery, 1893, T. tortuosum Roger, 1863, T. u...

A new species of the acrobat-ant genus Crematogaster, C. bonnieae, is described from the Western Ghats, India based on workers. The morphology of the new species is fairly distinguishable from other congeners by the following combination of characters: relatively large eyes; long antennal scapes, surpassing posterior head margin; propodeal spines r...

Here we present an intriguing new species of the Empididae genus Rhamphomyia (Pararhamphomyia) from the Kashmir Himalayas. The new species, Rhamphomyia (Pararhamphomyia) aquila, has a distinctive appearance due to its highly deformed male hind legs with extremely shortened hind tibia, a feature very peculiar in the genus. The new species is describ...

An intriguing worker morph of Diacamma ceylonense Emery, 1897 is reported here from the Western Ghats of India. Myrmecological literature abounds in such anomalies; however, this is a first such report for this genus. An asymmetrical teratological abnormality manifested in the right antennae as an atrocious form is reported and discussed here.

Amobia quatei Kurahashi, 1974 was reared from the puparia collected from the brood chambers of mason wasp Anterhynchium flavomarginatum (Smith, 1852). The species is reported for the first time from Indian subcontinent. This is also the first host record for the kleptoparasite A. quatei. A redescription of the kleptoparasite supplemented with illus...

New xoridine species, Xorides xylotrechi sp. n., from India is described and illustrated. The parasitoid was reared from the larvae of the xylophagous beetle, Xylotrechus stebbingi (Gahan, 1906), infesting Juglans regia L. Notes on parasitoid behaviour and biology are also provided with a brief description of female reproductive system and venom ap...

The acalyptrate dipteran family Pseudopomyzidae McAlpine, 1966 is reported herein for the first time from India. The new record is based on Tenuia smirnovi Shatalkin, 1994 collected from the Kashmir Valley, in the northern fringe of the Western Himalaya of the Indian subcontinent.

Based on adult morphology and DNA barcoding, two flower fly species are reported for the first time from India: Helophilus trivittatus (Fabricius, 1805) and Lejogaster tarsata (Megerle in Meigen, 1822). These species were collected from the Kash-mir Valley, in the northern fringe of the Western Himalaya of the Indian subcontinent.

An overview of the Ulidiidae fauna of India is presented. Five species Euxesta pechumani , Myennis octopunctata , Physiphora alceae , P. clausa and P. euphorbiana are recognized. The report of Euxesta pechumani is the first record of the genus from India. Diagnosis, general distribution and notes on biology of all these species are provided.

The genus Trypheridium Brancucci, 1985 is endemic to the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region, and is currently known from a single species, T. nuristanicum (Wittmer, 1956). Here, the genus is reviewed, T. nuristanicum nom. emend. is re-described and T. kashmiricum sp. nov. is described from Kashmir Himalayan Region of India. Descriptions, diagnoses, high q...

The species-rank taxonomy of the genus Lepisiota Santschi, 1926 in India is revised. Thirteen species are recognized, with two described as new: L. layla sp. n. and L. mayri sp. n. The three previously infraspecific taxa L. integra stat. nov., L. pulchella stat. rev. and L. wroughtonii stat. rev. are elevated to species rank. Four species or subspe...

Here we describe and illustrate Syllophopsis peetersi sp. nov. from Silent Valley National Park, a biodiversity hotspot region of the Western Ghats of India. The discovery also marks a first native report of the genus from the Indian subcontinent. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was carried out to elucidate the general morphology and se...

A neotype is designated for Sicus indicus Kröber, 1940, the original type material of which is lost. This species is accepted as valid (rev. stat.) and is redescribed and illustrated from material collected in the Kashmir Valley of the Western Himalayas of India. Sicus indicus is distinguished from other Sicus Scopoli, 1763 species primarily by the...

Rhamphomyia bhagati Barták, Akbar, Kanturski, Wachkoo & Maqbool sp. nov. (Diptera: Empididae) is described and illustrated based on male and female specimens. The discovery marks the frst record of the genus Rhamphomyia from the Kashmir Valley. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was carried out to elucidate the general morphology and sensi...

Taxonomy and distribution of the genus Odontoponera in India is herewith detailed. Only one species, Odontoponera denticulata is recognized. The male of this species is described for the first time, together with a diagnosis for the genus; queen and worker are redescribed, and images of all castes are provided. Information on the distribution and e...

An updated checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Sri Lanka is presented. These include representatives of eleven of the 17 known extant subfamilies with 341 valid ant species in 79 genera. Lio-ponera longitarsus Mayr, 1879 is reported as a new species country record for Sri Lanka. Notes about type localities, depositories, and relevant...

Temnothorax pakistanensis sp. n., a new ant species from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from the Himalayan range of Pakistan is described based on the worker caste and queen. An identification key and distribution map of the known Pakistani Temnothorax is presented. Summaries of the taxonomic history and biology of the three Temnothorax species of Pakistan is...

The chapter provides a taxonomic overview of moths (Lepidoptera) of Jammu and Kashmir State. Based on the critical review of scientific literature, museum collections, and data generated from the field surveys since 2002, moth diversity of the State is represented by 461 species belonging to 23 families classified under 12 superfamilies. Noctuoidea...

The chapter presents an inventory of select dipteran families Bombyliidae (bee flies), Conopidae (thick-headed flies), Dryomyzidae (Dryomyzid flies), Megamerinidae (Megamerinid flies), Stratiomyidae (soldier flies), Syrphidae (hover flies), and Ulidiidae (picture-winged flies) recorded from Jammu and Kashmir State. Altogether 107 valid species have...

This chapter presents the first ever taxonomic inventory of ant species recorded from the Jammu and Kashmir State. The inventory is based on relevant scientific literature and museum collections, combined with data obtained from the field surveys since 2008. In total, there are 198 ant taxa (species and subspecies) representing 54 genera in 7 subfa...

Ladybird beetles were collected from unmanaged apple trees of Kashmir Himalayas across five selected sites to assess species composition and seasonal distribution. Altogether 12 species belonging to 4 subfamilies and 11 genera were found. Varying among sites, species richness was recorded lowest (S = 8) at Shopian and Kupwara and highest (S = 12) a...

The present paper provides an updated checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Pakistan. These include seven of the 21 known extant subfamilies with 101 valid ant species in 33 genera. Five species are reported for the first time from Pakistan: Cardiocondyla wroughtonii Forel, 1890; Crematogaster biroi Mayr, 1897; Ooceraea biroi (Forel, 1...

Temnothorax elmenshawyi sp. n., a new ant species from the Asir Mountains of the southwestern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is described based on the worker caste. The new species is a member of the T. exilis species group and is distinguished from the other species included in this group by the impressed metanotal groove, the short, acute...

Aspicera hartigi Dalla Torre, 1889 is reported for the first time from India. A brief diagnosis and photo- graphic illustrations of the species are provided to validate this new faunal record for India from the Kashmir valley in Western Himalaya. In addition, the present study for the first time reports the feeding of Aspicera hartigi on the pollin...

Spilomyia manicata (Rondani, 1865) is reported as a new genus and species record from India and the Oriental region. A brief diagnosis, images, and comparison with allied species are provided to scientifically validate this new faunal record from the Indian subcontinent and to facilitate its prompt identification. The species shows rare distributio...

The worker caste of the ant species Protanilla schoedli is discovered and described for the first time based on specimens collected across Sri Lanka. The specimens examined demonstrate within-species morphological variations in body size, petiolar shape and colour. A distributional map and worker images to facilitate its identification are provided...

Protichneumon pisorius Linnaeus (Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata., Laurnetii Salvii, Holmiae, 824 pp 1758) is reported for the first time from India. A brief diagnosis and images of the species are provided to valid...

Anthrenus (Anthrenodes) himalayensis sp. nov., a new dermestid species from Kashmir Himalayas, India is described, illustrated, and compared with similar species. The new species is closest to A. occultus Háva, 2006 and A. katrinkrauseae Háva, 2018 but differs by the structure of antennae, male genitalia, and scale pattern.

Information available on species composition, richness and diversity of ant communities of Western Ghats is limited. Recognizing this, the study (2010−2013) was undertaken to evaluate richness and diversity of ants in eight sites of Western Ghats, India, with added notes on how it varies on elevation gradient. Spanning across broad altitudinal and...

Megamerina dolium (Fabricius, 1805) and Myennis octopunctata (Coquebert, 1798) are reported for the first time from India. A brief diagnosis and images of the species are provided to validate these new faunal records from India.

Five ant species are reported for the frst tme from Sri Lanka: Ooceraea alii (Bhart & Akbar, 2013); O. biroi (Forel, 1907); Prionopelta kraepelini Forel, 1905; Strumigenys emmae (Emery, 1890) and S. membranifera Emery, 1869. Among the newly reported species, four species (O. biroi, S. membranifera, S. emmae and P. kraepelini) are known for their in...

Cacopsylla bidens (Šulc, 1907 Šulc K. 1907. Nové zvěsti o Psyllách [New rumors about Psylla]. Acta Societatis Entomologicae. 4:110–116. [Google Scholar]) is reported for the first time from India. A brief diagnosis, images and comparison with allied species are provided to validate this new faunal record and facilitate its prompt identification. Se...

There are no well defined Leptogenys species groups based on the worker morphology from the Oriental region Arimoto (2017). Leptogenyschinensis forms a complex species group with closely related species having little morphological changes Wilson (1958), Sarnat and Economo (2012). From the Oriental region, there are currently 9 species belonging to...

The present paper provides a checklist of the flower bug families Anthocoridae and Lasiochilidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of India based on literature and newly collected specimens including eleven new records. The Indian fauna of flower bugs is represented by 73 species belonging to 26 genera under eight tribes of two families. Generic transfers o...

Ficobracon kashmirensis sp. nov., a new braconid species from Kashmir Himalayas, India, is described with illustrations. The discovery marks the first record of Ficobracon from India, and is the fifth known species of the genus globally. A discussion on the seasonal occurrence and some elements of biology, together with a revised key to the known s...

Pseudolasius zamrood sp. n., is described based upon the worker and the sexual caste. The new species marks the first record of the genus from South India and represents only the seventh species of the genus to be reported from India. The species appears distinct with its extremely reduced eyes. The new species is closest to P. typhlos Wheeler, 191...

Dryomyza pakistana Kurahashi, 1989 is reported as a new record from India. A brief diagnosis, images and comparison with allied species are provided to scientifically validate this new faunal record from India and to facilitate its prompt identification.

The first inventory of the ants of Indian Northwestern Shivalik is presented. A total of 179 names of species group taxa (163 species, 16 subspecies) are recorded based on literature records and newly sampled material from 2008-2012. Twenty nine species are endemics whilst ten species are introduced. Synonyms, new localities, notes about type local...

Background The taxonomy of Camponotus ants in India is mostly based on the worker caste, described in about 96% of the known species (AntWeb 2016). However, nearly 48% of these ant species are only known from workers, with no record of sexual forms. To improve knowledge of Indian Camponotus, we here describe sexuals of CamponotusopaciventrisMayr 18...

The Indian soldierfly fauna is rich and diverse, yet it is poorly studied since most species were described in the 19th century. Soldierflies like most of the other organisms, especially in developing nations like ours, have faced the neglect in recent times. Here we present an inventory of all names so far validly published in Indian Stratiomyidae...

The first ergatoid male for the ant genus Platythyrea is discovered and described. The male of P. sagei FOREL, 1900, in addition to being apterous, is unique among Platythyrea species for bearing elongate scapes. In the field, males of P. sagei were observed leaving and returning to a nest with workers, some with debris in their mandibles. The male...

Camponotus mutilarius Emery, 1893 stat nov., described as an infraspecific taxon wasmanni var. mutilarius, is raised here to species rank. It is an independent species and is removed from its association with C. wasmanni Emery, 1893. The male of this species is described for the first time, and the queen and the worker are redescribed. The male of...

The Indian species of the ant genus Hypoponera Santschi, 1938 are treated herewith. Eight species are recognized of which three are described as new and two infraspecific taxa are raised to species level. The eight Indian species are: H. aitkenii(Forel, 1900) stat. nov., H. assmuthi (Forel, 1905), H. confinis (Roger, 1860), H. kashmirensis sp. nov....

Indian Nylanderia fauna is revised for the first time. Seven species are recognized, of which Nylanderia himalayana sp. nov. is described as new. Hitherto undescribed female and male castes of N. birmana are described for the first time. Photomontage images and comparative diagnosis by workers are provided. Information on the distribution of Indian...

A neotype is designated for Camponotus horseshoetus Datta & Raychaudhuri, 1985 as the type material is lost. The original description is ambiguous and for that reason we redescribe the species with illustrations. Camponotus horseshoetus is recorded from West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh for the first time.

Taxonomy and distribution of the ant species Cataglyphis setipes (Forel, 1894) is herewith detailed. C. setipes is redescribed, based on workers, queens, and males. Photomontage images of all castes are provided. Information on the distribution and ecology of this species is also given. A key to the Indian species of Cataglyphis is presented.

A new combination is proposed for the little known Indian ant Paraparatrechina aseta (Forel, 1902) comb. n. It was misfit in the earlier taxonomic position and is therefore, transferred from Nylanderia to Paraparatrechina, and accordingly redescribed with illustrations.

A checklist of hoverfly species recorded from Indian Western Himalaya is reported based on literature records. Altogether 55 genera and 169 valid species are currently known from the area. Synonyms, notes about type localities, depositories and distribution are included. The list, which provides a synthesis of the regional taxonomical work carried...

Descriptions of two new species of Pseudolasius based on worker caste and sexuals are provided from India. With addition of these two species collected in lower Shivalik range of Northwest Himalaya, four species signify the genus Pseudolasius from India. An identification key to the workers of Indian Pseudolasius species is provided.

The hitherto unknown worker caste of Nylanderia smythiesii (Forel, 1894) is described for the first time. Sexuals are redescribed and photomontage images of all castes are provided. A key is presented to separate the six Indian species of Nylanderia. Previously described Nylanderia assimilis (Jerdon, 1851) is considered a species inquirenda.

Proceratium bhutanense De Andrade, 2003, syn. n. is here found to be conspecific with Proceratium williamsi Tiwari, 2000 and accordingly treated as a junior synonym.

A new species of carpenter ant, collected in the Shivalik range of Himalaya is described and illustrated based on the worker and gyne castes under the name Camponotus parabarbatus sp. n. Presence of dense, short setae on gena and ventral surface of head resembles it most to Camponotus barbatus Roger, 1863 distributed in Southeast Asia. A regional i...

Descriptions of Cerapachys browni sp. n. and Cerapachys costatus sp. n. from India are provided. C. browni is the member of the wide spread dohertyi group while C. costatus represents the 3rd species of the rare crawleyi group, with C. sauteri Forel, 1913 and C. crawleyi Wheeler, 1924 reported earlier. An identification key to the worker caste of I...

A key to the Indian species of the ponerine ant genus Anochetus Mayr, 1861 is presented and two new species are described: Anochetus cryptus sp. nov. and Anochetus validussp. nov. collected from foothills of Himalaya, the Shivalik. Anochetus cryptus is a cryptobiotic species with minute eyes, light-pigmented integument, relatively reduced size and...

A cryptobiotic species Cryptopone subterranea sp. nov. is described based on the worker caste, collected in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. It most resembles C. motschulskyi Donisthorpe, 1943, and distinctly differs from all described species of the genus. An identification key to the known Indian species of Cryptopone is provided.

Two new species of Leptogenys based on the worker caste are described under the names Leptogenys lattkei sp. nov. and Leptogenys transitionis sp. nov. The ergatogyne of Leptogenys transitionis also reported here is the first of its kind in Leptogenys, characterised by a highly enlarged gaster, three prominent ocelli and the absence of wing sclerit...

Larval instars of Aphaenogaster beesoni Donisthorpe, 1933 are herein described in detail by scanning electron microscopy. Based on the body profile, body size, types of body hairs and head capsule size a total of five larval stages are recognised. All five instars show clear variations in their body shape and mouth parts. Body of the first instar i...

Descriptions of two new species Aenictus indicus sp. nov. and Aenictus wilsoni sp. nov. are provided from India. The presence of an unusual distinct ridge between mesonotum and mesopleuron relates them to three sympatric Philippine species, Aenictus philippinensis Chapman, 1963; Aenictus rabori Chapman, 1963 and Aenictus pangantihoni Zettel and Sor...

The taxonomy of Indian Prenolepis is discussed here for the first time in detail. Prenolepis fisheri sp. n. , an intriguing species described as new, is the second species of the genus known from India, with only Prenolepis naoroji Forel, 1902 reported earlier. P. fisheri sp. n. resembles the Antillean Prenolepis albimaculata Santschi, 1930; Pre...

First Record of the Genus Myopias (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from India, with Description of New Species Myopias shivalikensis Bharti et Wachkoo, sp. n. is described based on a single worker, collected in lower Shivalik range (700 m a. s. l.) of Northwest Himalaya by soil core method. The genus Myopias is recorded for the first time in India. M. shi...

We present here the first record of Prionopelta kraepelini, from India col -lected in foothills of Northwest Himalaya, the Shivalik. This also marks the first member of this genus from India. Themale of this species is also described here for the very first time.

Ponera indica sp. n. and Ponera taylori sp. n. collected in lower Shivalik range of Northwest Himalaya are described. This finding represents the first verified record of the genus Ponera for India. Ponera affinis Jerdon and Ponera pumila Jerdon were described inadequately from Malabar India are unidentifiable to genus and are considered incertae s...

Amblyopone boltoni sp. nov. is described from India. This is the fourth species of the genus known in India with A. bellii Forel,1900, A. rothneyi Forel,1900 and A. pertinax Baroni Urbani,1978 reported earlier. This also confirms the first record of the subfamily Amblyoponinae from Northwest Himalaya. An identification key to the worker caste o...