Pakistan Entomologist Journal homepage: www.pakentomol.com LADYBIRD BEETLES OF SUB-FAMILY CHILOCORINAE (COCCINELLIDAE: COLEOPTERA) OF AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR Alia Hayat1, Muhammad Rafique Khan1, Falak Naz2* and Muhammad Ather Rafi2 1Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Poonch, Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan 2National Insect Museum, DPEP, NARC, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan ARTICLE INFORMATION ABSTRACT Received: July 10, 2013 Ladybird beetles of family Chilocorinae are medium sized beetles which are mainly Received in revised form: June 10, 2014 predator on scale insects. In present study, a survey was conducted to explore the Accepted: July 25, 2014 Chilocorine ladybird beetles from Azad Jammu and Kashmir during 2009-2011. A total of 9 species in 5 genera were recorded from the study area which include Brumoides suturalis, Chilocorus infernalis, Chilocorus melas, Chilocorus nigrita, Chilocorus rubidus, Exochomus flavipes, Exochomus nigripennis, Pricibrumus *Corresponding Author: uropygialis, Platynaspidius saundersi. Among these species Chilocorus melas, Falak Naz Chilocorus rubidus, Exochomus nigripennis are new to the area. Members of the [email protected] genus Chilocorus were closely resembled to each other. They were separated on the basis of diagnostic characters of adult female and male genitalia. Keywords: Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chilocorinae, Distribution, Taxonomy INTRODUCTION Saskatchewan. Booth (1998) discussed that Chilocorus nigrita is the predator of scale insects and also separated it The ladybird beetles are known for their predacious nature. from three other Oriental species of genus Chilocorus. They play important role in regulating insect pests, especially Due to the importance of this important group of ladybird aphids, leafhoppers, scale insects, mealy bugs, mites and soft beetles, it remains a focus of interest for taxonomists in the bodied insects (Slipinski, 2007). It has six sub-families world. Mulsant (1846) was the first to establish this sub- among which sub-family Chilocorinae is most important as family. Later on, Wiese (1885a); Casey (1899); Jacobson its members are predators of scale insects aphids, mealybugs (1916); Korschefsky (1932); Mader (1955); ; Kapur (1958); and psyllids. Miyatake (1970, 1985); Sasaji (1971); Hoang (1983); Gordon DeBach (1964) lists a number of Icerya species and 11 other (1985); Kuznetsov (1997); Poorani (2002) and Shunxiang et coccids which have been successfully controlled by al. (2009) worked on the taxonomy of this sub-family. In coccinellid species of genus Chilocorus. Chilocorus bijugus Pakistan, some work has been done by different workers and (Mulsant) (Coccinellidae; Coleoptera) was introduced in reported some important species of Chilocorinae (Khan et al., Swat for the control of Quadraspidiotus perniciosus 1999a; Khan et al., 1999b; Rafi et al., 2005; Khan et al., 2007; (Comstock) (Daispididae; Homoptera) on apples, resulting in Khan et al., 2008; Rahatullah et al., 2011). reduction of pest populations (Mohyuddin, 1982). Deboo and The Chilocorinae of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is poorly Weidhaas (1976) reported that Chilocorus stigma has been explored and some scanty information is available. Ahmad et effective predator for controlling pine needle scales. al, (1999; 2004) studied the temporal and spatial distribution Cumming (1953) found that C. stigma greatly reduced of Chilocorus infernalis at different altitudes and on different population of pine needle scale in localized areas of varieties of apple in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Cite this article as: Hayat, A., M.R. Khan, F. Naz and M.A. Rafi, 2014. Ladybird beetles of sub-family Chilocorinae (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Pak. Entomol., 36(2):135-143. 77135 Hayat et al. / Pakistan Entomologist 2014, 36(2):135-143 Inayatullah et al. (2005) listed Coccinellids (Chilocorinae) of emarginated, sides descending vertically. Elytron entirely Poonch district; Khan et al. (1999b) of Bagh and Khan et al. black or with red spots. Elytral base distinctly wider than (1999a) of district Sudhnuti. Although a comprehensive list of pronotal base. Epipleura relatively broad, reaching apex of coccinellids of AJK is provided by Khan et al. (2008) in which elytra. Tibiae expanded, denticulate on lower margin. subfamily Chilocorinae was also included. Azad Jammu and Kashmir is hilly and mountainous area with Genus: Brumoides Chapin, 1965 valleys and stretches of plains. It has subtropical highland type climate. The average rainfall is 1300 mm. Elevation from Type species the sea level ranges from 360 meters in South to 6325 meters in North. The total area of Azad Kashmir is 5134 square miles Coccinella suturalis Fabricius, 1798: 78. (13297 sq km). It is divided into nine districts Bagh, Bhimber, Kotli, Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Hattian, Poonch and 1. Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius, 1798) Sudhnoti (Fig.1) Azad Kashmir lies between longitude of 73º- (Plate 1) 75º and latitude of 33º-36º. Coccinella suturalis Fabricius, 1798: 78. Keeping in view the importance of Chilocoine ladybird Brumus suturalis Mulsant, 1850: 494; Korschefsky, 1932: beetles, there is a need to thoroughly explore the Coccinellid 267; Kapur, 1942, 56. fauna of AJK and study it taxonomically. Brumoides suturalis Chapin, 1965a: 237 MATERIALS AND METHODS Diagnostic characters The specimens of sub-family Chilocorinae(Coleoptera) were Body oval, medium size. Pronotum slightly projected on each collected from different localities of each district of Azad anteriorlateral side and very finely pitted. Elytra yellow with Jammu and Kashmir. The surveys were conducted from April three brownish black longitudinal stripes, one on each elytron to October during 2009/ 2011 on monthly basis from all and one on the mid-dorsal line at junction of elytra, not districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir except Haweli.Adult reaching the posterior margin. specimens were collected by sweeping the low grass and vegetation by aerial net, by hand picking, beating the bushes Male genitalia and shaking the trees. Small specimens were collected by aspirator. The collected specimens were killed in killing bottle Trab of Phalobase long, distally thick, basal piece; small, containing potassium cyanide.The dead specimens were somewhat circular. Parameres; long, uniformly thick, pinned in two ways. Small sized beetles were difficult to be sparsely provided with hairs on 3/4 distal portion. Siphon pinned, therefore were mounted on a small rectangular piece capsule of median lobe asymmetrical, anterior arm long and of white card with a hydrosoluble glue. The specimens were broad. Siphonal tube abruptly turned at base, broadly circular, then kept in wooden insect boxes. The specimens were and then straight, distally turned inward. identified with the help of available literature and by comparison with already identified species in reference Remarks collection. Final identification was done on the basis of genitalia study. Genitalia was extracted following Naz et al. This species is widely distributed throughout the Oriental (2012). Stereoscope (ZSM-04 Labomed) was used for Region. It feeds upon a variety of hosts, e.g., mites, psyllids, specimen study during identification. coccids and aphids and helps in their control. Kapur (1942) has described its life history, seasonal occurrence and hosts in RESULTS AND DISCUSSION detail and recorded three species of aphids, six species of coccids and one species of mites as its host. During this study, different localities in 9 districts of Azad Jammu & Kashmir were surveyed during 2009- 2011 for the Past record collection of Chilocorineladybird beetles. As a result of these surveys, 9 species of sub-family Chilocorinae were collected. Ansar (2002) described this species from District Lahore, The identification on the basis of genitalia revealed that there Punjab (Pakistan). Sharma and Joshi (2010) reported this are 9 species in 5 genera in the study area. species as new record from district Dehradun, India. Rafi et al. (2005) reported this species from all ecological regions of Subfamily: Chilocorinae Mulsant, 1846 Pakistan. Type genus Present record Chilocorus Leach, in Brewster, 1815. During this study, the species was collected from Numanpura, Description Paddar, Arja, Mongbajri, Dhirkot, Chamyati, ChammanKot (District Bagh); Berhing, Bernala, Bhimber, Choki, Chumb, Body oval. Eyes and dorsal surface glabrous. Antennae Kadala, Maglora (District Bhimber); Hattain, Lemnian, Saran relatively short with clypeus broad, laterally expanded on (District Hattian); Dongi, Fatehpur, Hollar, Kotli, Sensah, each side, in front of eyes in form of broad plates, covering Sarsawa, Khuiretta, (District Kotli); Afzalpur, Islam Garh, basis of antennae. Anterior margin of pronotum deeply Jatlan, Mangla, Mirpur (District Mirpur); Domail, Chattar, 136 Hayat et al. / Pakistan Entomologist 2014, 36(2):135-143 Kohala, Kohri, Shaeed Gali (District Muzafarabad); Past record Rawalakot, Thorar, Topa, Paniola, Banjosa, Abbaspur (District Poonch); Pallandri, Baral, Trarkhel, Baloch, Qillan, It was collected from Arja, Dhirkot (Bagh) Abbaspur, Azad Patan (District Sudhnoti). Mandhol, Mang and Trarkhal by Khan et al. (2008). Seasonal occurrence Present record This species is found from April to October. Common coccinellid of Pakistan with wide distribution in the hilly areas. It was collected from Arja, Bagh, Chamman Kot, Distribution Chamyati, Dhirkot, Harigal, Mongbajri, Numanpura, Padar (District Bagh); Barnala,