List of minor insects of Sri Lanka explained

Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The invertebrate fauna is as large as it is common to other regions of the world. There are about 2 million and counting species of arthropods found in the world. Due to this, it is very difficult to summarize the exact number of species found within a certain region.

The following list is about some minor insect orders recorded in Sri Lanka.

Jumping bristletails

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Archaeognatha

Archaeognatha, are an insect order of the subclass Apterygota, which means they are insects without wings at any stage of the lifecycle. In the evolution of insects, Archaeognatha are the most primitive insects currently exists in the world. They have elongated bodies and arched backs. They have three long caudal filaments, where two lateral filaments are known as cerci, and the medial one is an epiproct. 350 species of Jumping bristletails belong to two families have been identified. Two species are known from Sri Lanka.[1]

Family: Machilidae

Silverfish

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Zygentoma

Zygentoma is an insect order of the subclass Apterygota. The order includes silverfish, fishmoths, and the firebrats. All Zygentoma species have three long caudal filaments, where two lateral filaments are known as cerci, and the medial one is an epiproct or appendix dorsalis. There are five families in the order. 3 species are known from Sri Lanka.[2] [3]

Family: Ateluridae

Family: Lepismatidae

Webspinners

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Embioptera

The order Embioptera, commonly known as webspinners, are a small group of mostly tropical and subtropical insects, classified under the subclass Pterygota. The order has also been referred to as Embiodea or Embiidina.[4] The name Embioptera ("lively wings") comes from Greek, εμβιος, embios meaning "lively" and πτερον, pteron meaning "wing", a name that has not been considered to be particularly descriptive for this group of fliers, perhaps instead referring to their remarkable speed of movement both forward and backward.[5]

Over 360 embiopteran species have been described,[6] [7] along with estimates of around 2000 species being in existence today.[8] There is some debate as to the exact phylogenetic classification of Embioptera, with the order having been classed as a sister group to both orders Zoraptera,[6] [9] and Phasmatodea,[10]

The following list provide the lacewings currently identified in Sri Lanka. Only four species found from this order within the country.[11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Endemic species are denoted as E.

Family: Oligotomidae

Booklice

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Psocoptera

Psocoptera are an order of insects that are commonly known as booklice, barklice or barkflies.[20] They first appeared in the Permian period, 295–248 million years ago. They are often regarded as the most primitive of the hemipteroids.[21] Their name originates from the Greek word ψῶχος, psokos meaning gnawed or rubbed and πτερά, ptera meaning wings.[22] There are more than 5,500 species in 41 families in three suborders. Many of these species have only been described in recent years.[23]

The Order Psocoptera is divided into three suborders. According to checklists by Smithers in 1967 and New in 1977, there are 67 accepted species of booklice found from Sri Lanka. The checklist of New was advanced with the full description of two subfamilies Epipsocidae and Pseudocaeciliidae, from Sri Lanka.[24] [25]

Family: Amphientomidae - tropical barklice

Family: Amphipsocidae - hairy-winged barklice

Family: Archipsocidae - ancient barklice

Family: Caeciliusidae - lizard barklice

Family: Calopsocidae - common barklice

Family: Ectopsocidae - outer barklice

Family: Elipsocidae - damp barklice

Family: Epipsocidae - elliptical barklice

Family: Hemipsocidae - leaf litter barklice

Family: Lepidopsocidae - scaly-winged barklice

Family: Liposcelididae - booklice

Family: Myopsocidae - mouse-like barklice

Family: Peripsocidae - stout barklice

Family: Philotarsidae - loving barklice

Family: Pseudocaeciliidae - false lizard barklice

Family: Psocidae - common barklice

Family: Stenopsocidae - narrow barklice

Thrips

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Thysanoptera

Thrips (order Thysanoptera) are minute, slender insects with fringed wings (thus the scientific name. Other common names for thrips include thunderflies, thunderbugs, storm flies, thunderblights, storm bugs, corn flies and corn lice. Thrips species feed on a large variety of plants and animals by puncturing them and sucking up the contents. A large number of thrips species are considered pests, because they feed on plants with commercial value. Some species of thrips feed on other insects or mites and are considered beneficial, while some feed on fungal spores or pollen. Approximately 6,000 species have been described. Thrips are generally tiny (1 mm long or less) and are not good flyers, although they can be carried long distances by the wind. In the right conditions, like indoor grow rooms or greenhouses, many species can exponentially increase in population size and form large swarms because of a lack of natural predators, making them an irritation to humans.

The first comprehensive detailed work on Sri Lankan thrip fauna came through Schmutz in 1913. His checklist stood for more than 70 years with 43 new species. In 1997, Oda et al. rediscovered and updated the thrip diversity, but with small collections from Sri Lanka. The most recent work was done by Wijerathna, and he listed 16 species of thrips from 28 crops across the island. Currently, thrips documented within Sri Lanka included to 3 families - Aeolothripidae, Thripidae, and Phlaeothripidae, with 46 genera and 78 species.[26] [27]

Family: Aeolothripidae - predatory thrips

Family: Thripidae - common thrips

Family: Phlaeothripidae - tube-tailed thrips

Fleas

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Siphonaptera

Fleas are insects that form the order Siphonaptera. They are wingless, with mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Fleas are external parasites, living by hematophagy off the blood of mammals and birds. Over 2,000 species have been described worldwide.[28]

The following list provide the fleas found in Sri Lanka. The first checklist of fleas in Sri Lanka was done by Iyengar in 1973. 20 species are recognized, more taxonomic study is required.[29] The fleas studies were almost confined to parasitic sections, where W. W. A. Phillips documented 11 species of fleas in 1980.

Family: Ceratophyllidae

Family: Ischnopsyllidae - bat fleas

Family: Pulicidae - cat fleas

Family: Stivaliidae

Caddisflies

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Trichoptera

The caddisflies are an order, Trichoptera, of insects with approximately 7,000 described species.[30] Also called sedge-flies or rail-flies, they are small moth-like insects having two pairs of hairy membranous wings. They are closely related to Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) which have scales on their wings, and the two orders together form the superorder Amphiesmenoptera. Caddisflies have aquatic larvae and are found in a wide variety of habitats such as streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, spring seeps, and temporary waters (vernal pools).[31] The larvae of many species use silk to make protective cases of gravel, sand, twigs or other debris.

The caddisfly diversity in Sri Lanka is fairly studied from British times to present day. However, the first comprehensive work was done by Schmid in 1958.[32] Then in 1973, Malicky updated the checklist. Currently 188 number of caddisfly species belongs to 18 families are identified from Sri Lanka.[33] [34] [35] [36]

Family: Anomalopsychidae

Family: Calamoceratidae

Family: Dipseudopsidae

Family: Ecnomidae

Family: Goeridae

Family: Glossosomatidae - little black caddisflies

Family: Helicopsychidae - snail-case caddisflies

Family: Hydrobiosidae

Family: Hydropsychidae - net-spinning caddisflies

Family: Hydroptilidae - micro caddisflies

Family: Lepidostomatidae - bizarre caddisflies

Family: Leptoceridae - long-horned caddisflies

Family: Limnephilidae - northern caddisflies

Family: Odontoceridae - mortarjoint casemakers

Family: Philopotamidae - fingernet caddisflies

Family: Polycentropodidae - tube-maker caddisflies

Family: Psychomyiidae - net-tube caddisflies

Family: Xiphocentronidae

Twisted-winged parasites

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Strepsiptera

Order Strepsiptera, commonly called, twisted-wing parasites, are an endopterygote order of insects. The order consists with nine extant families with about 600 species. Adults in most of their lives are spent as endoparasites in other insects, such as bees, wasps, leafhoppers, silverfish, and cockroaches.[37] Males have well-developed pair of hind-wings and reduced fore-wings. Females wingless and usually do not leave their hosts.

The first scientific observation and detailed work on strepsipterans of Sri Lanka was done by Kathirithamby in 1994.[38] [39] In 1997, Kifune discovered 20 strepsipterans from Sri Lanka, with 7 new species. All these new species genera are endemic to the country.[40] [41] [42]

Family: Corioxenidae

Family: Elenchidae

Family: Halictophagidae

Family: Mengenillidae

Family: Myrmecolacidae

Family: Stylopidae

Lice

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phthiraptera

Phthiraptera, is an insect order, which comprise more than 5,000 species of wingless insects. All lice are obligate parasites which live externally on warm-blooded mammals and birds. The three cosmopolitan species of lice live within the humans, on head, body and pubic region. They are divided into two groups, sucking lice and chewing lice. The exact number of lice in Sri Lanka is not known. Only some species have been documented.[43]

Family: Haematomyzidae

Family: Hoplopleuridae

Family: Menoponidae

Family: Pediculidae

Family: Pthiridae

Scorpionflies

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Mecoptera

Mecoptera is an insect order with about 600 described species. They are commonly known as scorpionflies, due to enlarged genitals possessed by males, which resemble the stinger of a scorpion. They are one of major pollinators gymnosperms along with bees. Detailed work on mecopterans in Sri Lanka not yet carried out. Two species are known to live in Sri Lanka.

Family: Bittacidae - hangingflies

Stoneflies

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Plecoptera

Plecoptera is an insect order with about 3,500 described species with worldwide distribution. They are one of the most primitive winged insects. The body is very simple, chewing mandibles, large compound eyes with two or three ocelli. Detailed work on plecopterans in Sri Lanka not yet carried out. Eight species within two families are known to live in Sri Lanka.

Family: Polyplacidae - spiny rat lice

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Checklist for Machilidae in Sri Lanka . insectoid. 1 November 2017.
  2. Web site: Checklist for Atelurinae in Sri Lanka . insectoid. 1 November 2017.
  3. Web site: Checklist for Lepismatidae in Sri Lanka . insectoid. 1 November 2017.
  4. Book: Donald J. Borror . Charles A. Triplehorn . Norman F. Johnson . An Introduction to the Study of Insects . 6th . 247 . . 1989.
  5. Daniel Rains Wallace. 2009 . Biologist Janice Edgerly-Rooks & the Extraordinary Embiids, Silken Choreographies. . Spring .
  6. . 2006 . The earliest webspinners (Insecta: Embiodea) . . 3514 . 1–22 . 10.1206/0003-0082(2006)3514[1:tewie]2.0.co;2 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714234938/http://www.oligotoma.com/pdf/Engel_Grimaldi_2006.pdf . 14 July 2011 . dmy-all . 2246/5791 . 85798036 .
  7. Claudia Szumik . 2008 . Phylogeny of embiopterans (Insecta) . . 24 . 6 . 993–1005 . 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2008.00228.x. 34892879 . 84665640 . free . 11336/80639 . free .
  8. E. S. Ross . 2000 . Contributions to the biosystematics of the insect order Embiidina. Part 1. Origin, relationships and integumental anatomy of the insect order Embiidina . Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences . 149 . 1–53.
  9. K. Yoshizawa . 2007 . The Zoraptera problem: evidence for Zoraptera plus Embiodea from the wing base . . 32 . 2 . 197–204 . 10.1111/j.1365-3113.2007.00379.x. 2115/33766 . 53321436 . free .
  10. Matthew D. Terry . Michael F. Whiting . 2005 . Mantophasmatodea and phylogeny of the lower neopterous insects . . 21 . 3 . 247–257 . 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2005.00062.x. 86259809 . free .
  11. History of Insect Collection and a Review of Insect Diversity in Sri Lanka . Ceylon Journal of Science . Wijesekara, Anura . Wijesinghe, D.P . 59. 10.1.1.379.2411.
  12. Book: The Fauna of Sri Lanka: Status of Taxonomy, Research, and Conservation . 23 January 2016 . Bambaradeniya, Channa N. B.. 9789558177518 . 2006 .
  13. First records of four species of webspinners (Insecta: Embioptera) from Chhattisgarh, India . 8 June 2016. Chandra, Kailash. Dawn, Prosenjit.
  14. Web site: Embioptera from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) . 8 June 2016 . Ross, Edwards..
  15. Web site: The Embiopteran Genus Oligotoma Westwood, 1837 (Embioptera: Oligotomidae), with Three New Recorded Species from Thailand . Kasetsart J. (Nat. Sci.) . 8 June 2016 . Poolprasert, Pisit..
  16. Web site: species Aposthonia ceylonica (Enderlein, 1912) . Embioptera Species File (Version 5.0/5.0) . 8 June 2016.
  17. Web site: species Aposthonia minuscula (Enderlein, 1912) . Embioptera Species File (Version 5.0/5.0) . 8 June 2016.
  18. Web site: species Oligotoma humbertiana (Saussure, 1896) . Embioptera Species File (Version 5.0/5.0) . 8 June 2016.
  19. Web site: species Oligotoma saundersii (Westwood, 1837) . Embioptera Species File (Version 5.0/5.0) . 8 June 2016.
  20. Web site: National Barkfly (Outdoor Psocoptera) Recording Scheme.
  21. Book: Firefly Encyclopedia of Insects and Spiders . Christopher O'Toole . 978-1-55297-612-8 . 2002 . Firefly Books . Toronto . registration .
  22. Web site: Psocoptera . . John R. Meyer . 2005-03-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070205021919/http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/compendium/psocop~1.html . 5 February 2007 . dmy-all .
  23. New genera of Psocoptera (Insecta), from Mexico, Belize and Ecuador (Psoquillidae, Ptiloneuridae, Lachesillidae) . Alfonso N. García Aldrete . . 1319 . 1–14 . 2006. 10.11646/zootaxa.1319.1.1 .
  24. Epipsocidae and Pseudocaeciliidae (Psocoptera) from Sri Lanka . Oriental Insects. 11. 3. 409–420. New, T. R.. 10.1080/00305316.1977.10433824 . 1977.
  25. Web site: Checklist of Psocoptera according to the World Catalogue (Lienhard & Smithers, 2002) . Natural History Museum of the City of Geneva. Department of Arthropodology and Entomology I . 8 June 2016.
  26. Web site: List of Thrips (Thysanoptera) recorded from Sri Lanka . J. NatnSci.Foundation Sri Lanka . 8 June 2016 . Tillekaratne, Kalpana, Mound, Laurence A., Zur Strassen, R., Edirisinghe, Jayanthi P..
  27. Web site: Survey of thrips in Sri Lanka: A checklist of thrips species, their distribution and host plants . University of Peradeniya . 8 June 2016 . Tillekaratne, Kalpana, Edirisinghe, J.P., Gunatilleke, C.V.S., Karunaratne, W. A. I. P..
  28. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig132 Fleas: What They Are, What To Do
  29. Web site: Checklist of Siphanaptera in Sri Lanka . insectoid.info . 8 June 2016.
  30. Encyclopedia: Encyclopædia Britannica. Caddisfly. Keith Arthur John Wise . Wise . Keith Arthur John. 2016-02-22.
  31. Glenn B. Wiggins, Larvae of the North American Caddisfly General (Trichoptera), 2nd. ed. (Toronto: University Press, 1996), p. 3
  32. Web site: Insecta-Trichoptera checkList . biodiversity.be . 8 June 2016.
  33. Web site: Diplectroninae Of Sri Lanka (Trichoptera : Hydropsychidae) . biodiversitylibrary.org . 8 June 2016.
  34. Web site: A new species of Anisocentropus (Trichoptera: Calamoceratidae) from Sri Lanka . Biodiversity library . 8 June 2016.
  35. Book: Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Trichoptera Volume 39 of the series Series Entomologica . Chantaramongkol, P. . Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Trichoptera. 109–110. 10.1007/978-94-009-4043-7_19 . 1987 . 978-94-010-8294-5 . The Caddisflies of Sri Lanka .
  36. Book: Limnology of Parakrama Samudra — Sri Lanka. Volume 12 of the series Developments in Hydrobiology . Malicky, Hans . Limnology of Parakrama Samudra — Sri Lanka. 227–228. 10.1007/978-94-009-7281-0_21 . 1983 . 978-94-009-7283-4 . Caddisflies (Trichoptera) from Parakrama Samudra, an ancient man-made lake in Sri Lanka .
  37. Book: Whiting, M. F. Resh, V. H. & R. T. Cardé. 2003. Encyclopedia of Insects. Academic Press. Strepsiptera. 1094–1096.
  38. Web site: Descriptions of Strepsiptera (Insecta) from Southeast Asia, With a Checklist of the Genera and Species Occurring in the Region . Raffles bulletin of Zoology . 9 June 2016 . Kathirithamby, Jeyaraney.
  39. Web site: Partial List of Strepsiptera Species . Tree of Life Project . 9 June 2016 . Kathirithamby, Jeyaraney.
  40. Web site: Records of the Strepsiptera of Sri Lanka in the Collection of the Smithsonian Institution, With Descriptions of Seven New Species (Notulae Strepsipterologicae-VI) . ESAKIA . 9 June 2016 . Kifune, Teiji . 143–159.
  41. Web site: Zeylanica/Journal of South Asian Natural History > Volume 1 Number 1 . wht.lk . 9 June 2016.
  42. Web site: Three New Species of the Genus Paraxenos (Strepsiptera: Stylopidae) Parasitic On Bembix (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) of Sri Lanka and Australia in the Collection of the Smithsonian Institution (Notulae Strepsipterologicae-Xvii) . 9 June 2016.
  43. Web site: Morphology and Prevalence of the Louse Haematomyzus elephantis in captive Asian elephants in Sri Lanka . Sarasaviya . 1 November 2017.

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