Diversity of Blattidids (Cockroaches) in Nilgiri hills, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Nilgiri’s hills is located at an altitude of 1000 to 2600 MSL, and has a variety of forest types covered with its latitudinal and longitudinal location is 130 km (Latitude: 11°12 N to 11°37 N) by 185 km (Longitude: 76°30 E to 76°55 E). This research investigated the diversity and abundance of Blattids (Cockroaches) found in several types of plantation in the forest area. The Blattids were collected by using artocarpus traps and by hand picking methods. In this present study on attempt in made to report baseline taxonomy and classification of 18 species Blattids under 15 genera belonging to 3 families from Nilgiri Biosphere reserve based on available literature, online data base and some specimens were collected from Nilgiri hills during the period of October, November and December, 2018. Microdina forceps, Neostylopyga maindroni and Pseudectobia luneli are endemic to Tamil Nadu after the first description there is no report from this area.