Diversity of Calliphoridae and Polleniidae (Diptera) in the Himalaya, India
Main Article Content
Abstract
The family Calliphoridae (Diptera: Calyptratae: Oestroidea) is primarily known for its synanthropic, necrophagous, and myiasis–causing species. This study presents an updated checklist of blow fly species recorded in the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, and Pakistan. The dataset includes 23 genera and 69 Species from Indian Himalayas, 18 genera and 52 species from the Pakistani Himalayas, and 22 genera and 74 species from Nepalese Himalaya. The data is categorised into three elevation zones: the Shivalik range (350–1,200 m), Lesser Himalaya (1200-2,200 m), and Upper Himalaya (2,200 m and above) taking into consideration factors such as vegetation, temperature, and other environmental variables. The Sorensen Similarity Index was utilized to quantify the degree of species overlap and similarity among blow fly communities within these elevation ranges.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors own the copyright to the articles published in JoTT. This is indicated explicitly in each publication. The authors grant permission to the publisher Wildlife Information Liaison Development (WILD) Society to publish the article in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. The authors recognize WILD as the original publisher, and to sell hard copies of the Journal and article to any buyer. JoTT is registered under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY), which allows authors to retain copyright ownership. Under this license the authors allow anyone to download, cite, use the data, modify, reprint, copy and distribute provided the authors and source of publication are credited through appropriate citations (e.g., Son et al. (2016). Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the southeastern Truong Son Mountains, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8(7): 8953–8969. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2785.8.7.8953-8969). Users of the data do not require specific permission from the authors or the publisher.
Funding data
-
Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
Grant numbers SR/WOS-A/LS-109/2016
References
Arce, B.J., S. Clout, D.L. Pat, M. Bharti, T. Pape, & S.A. Marshall
(2020). Viviparity and oviparity in termitophilous Rhiniidae (Diptera:
Oestroidea) in the Western Ghats, India. Oriental Insects 54(2): 259–
https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.2019.1618407
Bharti, M. & H. Kurahashi (2009). Finding of feral derived form (fdf) of
Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) from India with an evolutionary
novelity (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Japanese Journal of Systematic
Entomology 15(2): 411–413.
Bharti, M. & H. Kurahashi (2010). Lucilia calviceps Bezzi, new record
from India (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Halteres 2: 29–30.
Bharti, M. & B. Singh (2017). DNA-based identification of forensically
important blow flies from India. Journal of Medical Entomology 1–6.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjx084
Bharti, M. & H. Bharti (2016). Association and impact of ectoparasitic
blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on Himalayan ants of genus
Myrmica. Insectes Sociaux 63: 477–480. https://doi.org/10.1007/
s00040-016-0480-4
Bharti, M. & K. Rognes (2018) First report of genus Cynomya Robineau-
Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from India. Halteres 9: 185
–186.
Bharti, M. & N. Bunchu (2016). Three new records of genus Isomyia
(Walker, 1859) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from India, with a revised
key to the known Indian species. Japanese Journal of Systematic
Entomology 22(2): 241–244.
Bharti, M. & Y. Verves (2016). A new species of genus Polleniopsis
from India (Diptera: Calliphoridae) with a key to the Indian species.
Halteres 7: 1–4.
Bharti, M. (2011). An updated checklist of blowflies (Diptera:
Calliphoridae) from India. Halteres 3: 34–37.
Bharti, M. (2012). Altitudinal diversity of forensically important
blowflies collected from decaying carcasses in Himalaya. The Open
Forensic Science Journal 5: 1–3. https://doi.org/10.2174/18744028
Bharti, M. (2014). New record of Stomorhina siamensis Kurahashi et
Tumrasvin, 1992 from India, with a revised key to the known Indian
species of genus Stomorhina (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Far Eastern
Entomologist 281: 7–11.
Bharti, M. (2015a). Melinda pusilla pusilla (Villeneuve, 1927) (Diptera:
Calliphoridae) a new record from India with a revised key to the
known Indian species. Halteres 7: 43–45.
Bharti, M. (2015b). Melinda flavibasis (Malloch, 1931) (Diptera:
Calliphoridae), a new record from India with a revised key to the
known Indian species. International Journal of Dipterological
Research 26(1): 3–7.
Bharti, M. (2015c). Polleniopsis annamensis Kurahashi, 1972 (Diptera:
Calliphoridae) a new record from India, with a revised key to the
known Indian species. Halteres 6: 63–65.
Bharti, M. (2018). First verified record of genus Onesia (Diptera:
Calliphoridae) from India. Halteres 9: 141–142.
Bharti, M. (2019). New records of Chrysomya putoria and Chrysomya
thanomthini (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from India; with a revised key
to the known Indian species. Journal of Threatened Taxa 11(1):
–13190. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4470.11.1.13188-
Blaschke, J.D., J.O. Stireman, III, J.E. O’Hara, P. Cerretti & J.K. Moulton
(2018). Molecular phylogeny and the evolution of piercers in
the bug-killing flies (Diptera: Tachinidae: Phasiinae). Systematic
Entomology 43: 218–238. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12272
Buenaventura, E., M.W. Lloyd, J.M.P. Lopez, V.L. Gonzales, A. Thomas-
Cabinanca & T. Dikow (2021). Protein-encoding ultraconserved
elements provide a new phylogenomic perspective of Oestroidea
flies (Diptera: Calyptratae). Systematic Entomology 46: 5-27. https://
doi.org/10.1111/syen.12443
Catts, E.P. & M.L. Goff (1992). Forensic entomology in criminal
investigations. Annual Review of Entomology 37: 253–272. https://
doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.37.010192.001345
Cerretti, P., J.O. Stireman III, T. Pape, J.E. O’Hara, M.A.T. Marinho,
K. Rognes & D.A. Grimaldi (2017). First fossil of an oestroid fly
(Diptera: Calyptratae: Oestroidea) and the dating of oestroid
divergences. PLOS ONE 12(8): e0182101. https://doi.org/10.1371/
journal.pone.0182101
Cerretti, P., J.O. Stireman, D. Badano, S. Gisondi, K. Rognes, G.L.
Giudice & T. Pape (2019). Reclustering the cluster flies (Diptera: Oestroidea, Polleniidae). Systematic Entomology 44(4): 957–972.
https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12369
Cerretti, P., G. Lo Giudice & T. Pape (2014). Remarkable Rhinophoridae
in a growing generic genealogy (Diptera: Calyptratae, Oestroidea).
Systematic Entomology 39: 660–690. https://doi.org/10.1111/
syen.12080
Courtney, G.W., T. Pape, J.H. Skevington & B.J. Sinclair (2017).
Biodiversity of Diptera, Chapter 9., pp. 229–278. In: Foottit,
R.G. & P.H. Adler (eds.). Insect Biodiversity: Science and Society,
John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.. https://doi.
org/10.1002/9781118945568.ch9
Dear, J.P. (1977). Revision of Australian Rhiniinae (Diptera:
Calliphoridae). Australian Journal of Zoology 25(4): 779–826.
Hassan, M.A., I. Bodlah, M. Bharti & K. Mahmood (2018). An updated
checklist of blow fly fauna (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of Pakistan with
new records for the country. Halteres 9: 1–5.
Jewiss-Gaines, A., S.A. Marshall & T.L. Whitworth (2012). Cluster flies
(Calliphoridae: Polleniinae: Pollenia) of North America. Canadian
Journal of Arthropod Identification 19. https://doi.org/10.3752/
cjai.2012.19
Johnston, N.P., M. Piwczynski, P. Trzeciak, K. Walczak & K. Szpila
(2022). Integration of mitogenomic and morphological data
disintangles the systematics of Pollenia and establishes a revised
phylogenetic hypothesis for the Polleniidae. Systematic Entomology
–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12576
Kurahashi, H. & A. Kirk-Spriggs (2006) The Calliphoridae of Namibia
(Diptera: Oestroidea). Zootaxa 1322: 1–131
Kurahashi, H. & M. Afzal (2002) The blow flies recorded from Pakistan,
with the description of one new species (Diptera: Calliphoridae).
Medical Entomology and Zoology 53(2): 213 –230.
Kurahashi, H. (1989) Family Calliphoridae. In: Evenhuis, N.L. (Ed.).
Catalog of the Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions.
Bishop Museum Serial Publication 86, Honolulu, 180 pp.
Kurahashi, H. (1995) Two new species of Dexopollenia from Thailand,
with a key to the Oriental species (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Japanese
Journal of Sanitary Zoology 46(2): 139–144.
Kutty, S.N., K. Meusemann, K.M. Bayless, M.A. Marinho, A.C. Point,
X. Zhou, B. Misof, B.M. Weigmann, D. Yeates, O. Cerretti & R.
Meier (2019) Phylogenomic analysis of Calyptratae: resolving a
major radiation of Diptera. Cladistics 35(6): 605–622. https://doi.
org/10.1111/cla.12375
Kutty, S.N., T. Pape, B.M. Wiegmann & R. Meier (2010). Molecular
phylogeny of the Calyptratae (Diptera: Cyclorrhapha) with an
emphasis on the superfamily Oestroidea and the position of
Mystacinobiidae and McAlpine’s fly. Systematic Entomology 35:
–635. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.2010.00536.x
Mani, M.S. (1968). Ecology and Biogeography of High Altitude Insects.
Series Entomologica vol. 4. The Hague: Dr. W. Junk N.V. Publ.
XVI+528 pp.
Marinho, M.A.T., A.C.M. Junqueira & A.L.M. Azeredo-Espin (2011).
Evaluation of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) as a molecular
marker for phylogenetic inference using sequence and secondary
structure information in blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Genetica
(9): 1189–1207.
Marinho, M.A.T., M. Wolff, Y. Ramos-Pastranab, A.M.L. de Azeredo-
Espin & D.D.S. Amorim (2017). The first phylogenetic study of
Mesembrinellidae (Diptera: Oestroidea) based on molecular data:
clades and congruence with morphological characters. Cladistics 33:
–152. https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12157
McAlpine, J.F. (1989). Phylogeny and Classification of the
Muscomorpha, pp. 1397–1518. In: McAlpine, J.F. (eds.). Manual of
Nearctic Diptera, Research Branch Agriculture. Monograph No. 32,
Vol. 3, Canadian Government Publishing Centre, Hull, Canada.
Pandit, M.K., M. Kumar & L.P. Koh (2014). Dancing on the roof of
the world: ecological transformation of the Himalayan landscape.
BioScience 64(11): 980–992. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biu152
Rognes, K. (1986). The systematic position of Helicobosca Bezzi
with a discussion of the monophyly of the calyptrate families
Calliphoridae, Rhinophoridae, Sarcophagidae and Tachinidae
(Diptera). Entomologica Scandinavica 17: 75–92.
Rognes, K. (1991). Blowflies (Diptera, Calliphoridae) of Fennoscandia
and Denmark Ed Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica Vol. 24. E. J.
Brill/Scandinavian Science Press Ltd, Leiden.
Rognes, K. (1997). The Calliphoridae (blowflies) (Diptera: Oestroidea)
are not a monophyletic group. Cladistics 13: 27–66.
Rognes, K. (2002). Blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of Israel and
adjacent areas, including a new species from Tunisia. Insect
Systematics & Evolution 59: 1–148.
Rognes, K. (2009). Revision of the Oriental species of the Bengalia
peuhi species- group (Diptera, Calliphoridae). Zootaxa 2251: 1–76.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2251.1.1
Rognes, K. (2011). A review of the monophyly and composition of the
Bengaliinae with the description of a new genus and species, and
new evidence for the presence of Melanomyinae in the Afrotropical
Region (Diptera, Calliphoridae). Zootaxa 2964: 1–60. https://doi.
org/10.11646/zootaxa.2964.1.1
Rognes, K. (2013). A new species in the genus Pseudorhyncomyia
Peris, 1952 and the identity of P. Deserticola Zumpt and Argo,
(Diptera, Rhiniidae). Zootaxa 3736: 249–264. https://doi.
org/10.11646/zootaxa.3736.3.3
Senior-White, R., D. Aubertin & J. Smart (1940). The Fauna of British
India, Including the Remainder of the Oriental Region, Diptera, Vol.
VI. Family Calliphoridae. Taylor and Francis, London.
Singh, B. & J.D. Wells (2013). Molecular systematics of the Calliphoridae
(Diptera: Oestroidea): evidence from one mitochondrial and three
nuclear genes. Journal of Medical Entomology 50: 15–23. https://
doi.org/10.1603/ME11288
Stevens, J.R. & J.F. Wallman (2006). The evolution of myiasis in humans
and other animals in the Old and New Worlds (part I): phylogenetic
analyses. Trends in Parasitology 22: 129–136.
Stireman, J.O. III, P. Cerretti, J.E. O’Hara, J.D. Blaschke & J.K. Moulton
(2019). Molecular phylogeny and evolution of world Tachinidae
(Diptera). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 139: 106358.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.12.002
Tomberlin, J.K. & M.E. Benbow [eds.] (2015). Forensic Entomology:
International Dimensions and Frontiers. Chemical Rubber Company
Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, 433 pp.
Wadia, D.N. (1963). The Himalaya Mountains: Their age, origin and
sub-crustal relations. Meghnad Saha Lecture, National Institute of
Sciences of India, New Delhi, 17 pp.
Wells, J.D. & H. Kurahashi (1994). Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius)
(Diptera: Calliphoridae) development: rate, variation and the
implications for forensic entomology. Japanese Journal of Sanitary
Zoology 45(4): 303–309.
Wiegmann, B.M., M.D. Trautwein, I.S. Winkler, N.B. Barr, J.W. Kim, C.
Lambkin, M.A. Bertone, B.K. Cassel, K.M. Bayless, A.M. Heimberg
& B.M. Wheeler (2011). Episodic radiations in the fly tree of life.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United
States of America 108: 5690–5695. https://doi.org/10.1073/
pnas.1012675108
Winkler, I.S., J.D. Blaschke, D.J. Davis, J.O. III. Stireman, J.E. O’Hara, P.
Cerretti & J.K. Moulton (2015). Explosive radiation or uninformative
genes? Origin and early diversification of tachinid flies (Diptera:
Tachinidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 88: 38–54.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2015.03.021
Xu, J., R.E. Grumbine, A. Shrestha, M. Eriksson, X. Yang, Y. Wang & A.
Wilkes (2009). The melting Himalayas: cascading effects of climate
change on water, biodiversity, and livelihoods. Conservation Biology
: 520–530. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01237.x
Yahnke, W. & J.A. George (1972). Rearing and immature stages of the
cluster fly (Pollenia rudis) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Ontario. The
Canadian Entomologist 104(4): 567–576.
Yan, L., T. Pape, K. Meusemann, S.N. Kutty, R. Meier, K.M. Bayless & D.
Zhang (2021). Monophyletic blowflies revealed by phylogenomics.
BioMed Central Biology 19: 230. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-
-01156-4