Taxonomic studies on Tabanidae (Insecta: Diptera) from Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

18 species belonging to the 6 genera of family Tabanidae have been recorded from Himachal Pradesh. The present study revealed 7 species of Tabanidae viz. Tabanus (Tabanus) diversifrons Ricardo, 1911; Tabanus (Tabanus)fuscomaculatus Ricardo, 1911; Tabanus (Tabanus) gertrudae Philip, 1960;Haematopota inconspicua Ricardo, 1911; Haematopota lata Ricardo, 1906;Haematopota latifascia Ricardo, 1911; Hippocentrodes striatipennis (Brunetti, 1912 to be reported for the first time from the state of Himachal Pradesh. Taxonomic identification keys to these 18 species have been elucidated along with their distribution pattern in India and wold wide. The Tabanidae of Himachal Pradesh exhibit highest species richness from the district of Mandi while the species richness is minimum in the districts of Sirmour, Shimla and Lahul and Spiti.