A new black fly species, Simulium (Nevermannia) karavalliense sp. nov. is described from Southern Eastern Ghats of South India. This new species is placed in the Simulium ruficorne species-group of the subgenus Nevermannia. S. (N.) karavalliense sp. nov. is characterized by female with a long sensory vesicle, male upper eye with 14 vertical columns and 16 horizontal rows of large facets, pupal gill with 8 filaments and larval hypostoma with 6 hypostomal bristles lying parallel to lateral margin. Taxonomic keys are provided to distinguish this new species from related species in India.
Pteridophytes are vascular cryptogams that dominated the earth 250 million years ago. Currently, there are 13,600 species of pteridophytes around the world, and is the second most dominant plant group. In India, there are 1200 pteridophyte species with 70 families and 192 genera. The pteridophyte hotspots in India are the Himalayas, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Central India, and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. The Western Ghats occupies only 6% of the Indian landmass and still holds a pteridophyte diversity of 383 species. Fern and fern allies are highly sensitive to changes in their natural habitat, thus habitat destruction, anthropogenic influences, climate change, etc., are causing a fast decline in their population. Epiphytic species are easily destroyed due to the felling of trees and because of this at present 41- 43% of epiphytic pteridophytes in India are reported to be threatened. It necessitates the frequent analysis of the pteridophyte flora of a region to ensure the existence of its species diversity. The potential of in-vitro and ex-situ conservation techniques can be explored for the conservation of threatened pteridophyte species
A new mayfly species, Choroterpes (Euthraulus) kalladaensis sp. n. is described based on nymphs and subimagoes from South India. The nymph of Choroterpes (Euthraulus) kalladaensis sp. n. is characterized by a labrum with antero-median emargination well broad and ‘V’ shaped, femora with two black spots on median and basal region, claw with 2 sections of 13 denticles with 3 smaller serrations, posteriolateral spines present on segment 2–9, paraprocts smooth with pores and their inner margin with small triangular spines and outer margin with long setae and in the subimago the fore wing has four intercalary veins between costa and subcosta, penis lobes are short, membranous, separated apically and covered with minute setae. Taxonomic notes are given to distinguish this new species from closely related species.
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