Diversity of Calliphoridae and Polleniidae (Diptera) in the Himalaya, India

Main Article Content

Meenakshi Bharti
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0728-9065

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.

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