Biodiversity of the Orthotylinae and Phylinae in Nepal

1. Biodiversity of the Orthotylinae and Phylinae in Nepal Presented byT. Yasunaga& Ram Keshari Duwal Endangered in Nepal Supported by PBI Project US National Science Foundation Nat. Hist. Mus. Tribhuvan Univ., Kathmandu, NEPAL For a better tomorrow for all Japan International Cooperation Agency

2. Main aim of this presentation • Continuing Survey in Nepal, as JICA Senior Volunteer (ODA) Program, from Apr. 2005 to Mar. 2007 • Species Diversity of the Miridae in Nepal, with Emphasis on Orthotyline and Phyline Faunal Research Linked with Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (PBI) Project • Characteristics of Nepali Faunal Composition • New Findings of Unique Taxa • Current Natural Condition of Nepal • Further Research Plan and Issues

3. Zoogeographical maps for Nepal Cold temperate to boreal Temperate to subtropics Subtropics or tropics

4. Investigation Sites in Nepal (Top 10 summits of the world) 1. Everest (Sagarmatha): 8,848 m 2. K2: 8,611 m 3. Kanchenjunga: 8,586 m 4. Lhotse: 8,516 m 5. Makalu: 8,463 m 6. Cho-Oyu: 8,201 m 7. Dhaulagiri: 8,167 m 8. Manaslu: 8,163 m 9. Nanga Parbat: 8,125 m 10. Annapurna: 8,091 m • Temperate～warm temperate zones: Kathmandu Valley (A) [1,400-2,000 m] • Warm temperate～subtropics: Pokhara Valley (B) [600-1,200 m] • Temperate～boreal: Sagarmatha (C); Langtang (D); Mustang (E) [1,600-5,000 m] • Subtropics～tropics: Chitwan (F) [100-300 m]

5. Tibet-like mountain step, Mustang Himal (3,600m) Nepali Natural Environ I: Subboreal & Alpine zones Typical Himalayan glacier and glacier lake, Langtang Nat’l Park (3,900m) Yak, most common mammal in Himal alpine zone, very harmful to mirids! Subboreal conifer/deciduous forests in Sagarmatha Nat’l Park (3,500-4,000m)

6. Nepali Natural Environ II: Temperate & Warm Temperate zones Langtang Himal (2,600m) Deciduous forests, with Quercus, Alnus, Acer, sometimes with Pinus or evergreen broadleaves Kathmandu Valley (1,600m) Evergreen broadleaf forests, with Castanopsis, Mallotus, some tropical herbages, Pokhara (600-700m) Castanopsis inflorescences, with Annapurna Himal view Begnas Lake

7. Nepali Natural Environ III: Subtropics & Tropics Subtropical vegetation near Trisuli (400-500 m) Tropical forests found along Indian border; daily maximum temperature often over 40 centigrade in summer Savanna-like vegetation of Chitwan Nat’l Park (<120m), with view of Manaslu Range

8. Characteristics of Nepali fauna • Altitude gap effecting isolation and distribution • Derived from various origins — Palearctic + Old World (sub)tropical species • Species from different origins often co-inhabiting (particularly in mid-hill area, 500-1,500 m alt.) • Three faunal zones recognizable, basically differentiated by climate & altitude • Natural condition now modified rapidly—Alpine fauna (especially, herb-inhabitants) nearly being exterminated by limitless pasturage of ‘Yak’; also, temperate forests seriously endangered

9. Example I:Vertical distribution pattern of Bryocoris spp. along Langtang Himal trekking route B. sp. a: 2,200-3,000 m B. sp. b: 1,600-2,400 m B. sp. c: 1,700 m >

10. Example II:Occurrence of two Mecomma spp. in Langtang National Park

11. Mirid species found in Nepal from Apr. 2005 to Jun. 2006 Genera NABC ______________________________________________ Isometopinae 6 1 5 Psallopinae- Cylapinae2 1 1 Orthotylinae2213 18 Phylinae 4517 27 Bryocorinae 221 3 18 Deraeocorinae16 2 14 Mirinae 66 8*18 40 _______________________________________________ Total1791045 123 N: Total number of species foundA: Previously recorded from NEP B: Described but unrecorded species C: Undescribed or undetermined * Record of 3/8 species apparently based on misidentification

12. Orthotylines found in Nepal from Apr. 2005 to Jun. 2006 Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Genera NABC ______________________________________________________ Coridromius 2 2 Cyrtorhinus1 1 Mecomma2 2 Pseudoloxops[sensu lato]3 3 Zanchius[sensu lato]13 112 Genus (tribe) undetermined11 ______________________________________________________ Total2213 18 N: Total number of species foundA: Previously recorded from NEP B: Described but unrecorded species C: Undescribed or undetermined

13. Phylines found in Nepal from Apr. 2005 to Jun. 2006 Genera NAB ______________________________________ Hallodapus 22 Gen. I (Leucophoropterini)11 Bilirania 11 Druthmarus 11 Pilophorus 3 12 Sthenaridea 1 1 Atractotomoidea 2 2 Campylomma 5 23 Decomia 2 2 Europiella 2 2 Lasiolabops 2 11 Moissonia 3 12 Opuna 3 2 Rubrocuneocoris 11 Sejanus 4 22 Tytthus 1 1 Gen. II 2 2 Gen. III 2 2 Gen. IV (nr Psallus)1 1 Gen. V (nr Pityopsallus)1 1 Gen. VI 4 4 Gen. VII (nr Plagiognathus)1 1 _______________________________________ Total4517 27 Decomia near okutoshii N: Total number of species found A: Described but not previously recorded from Nepal B: Undescribed or undetermined *No reliable record currently available from Nepal

14. Species diversity found in Zanchius[s. lato] in Nepal • Members of this group found to be most diverse, ranging from tropical forests to subboreal Betula (4,000m) • Most species likely to be undescribed; identity of only one species (Z. annulatus) determined • Associated principally with homopteran leafhoppers • Like Pseudoloxops-Aretus complex, required a critical re-evaluation for generic as well as tribal revel classification

16. Unique Phylines Newly Discovered- Species of an undetermined genus - Sp. 1: Castanopsis inhabitant (1,400-1,800 m) Sp. 2: Quercus inhabitant (2,300-3,000 m) Only a female currently available… Sp. 4: Quercus inhabitant (1,800m) Sp. 3: Rosaceous broadleaf inhabitant (2,300-2,600 m)

17. Nilgiri Himal Further Work Plan in Nepal • Continuing effort to clarify whole fauna as basic approach for further conservation of endangered environment (for Nepalese Nature) • Properly educating and fostering young Nepalese researchers (heteropterists) • Research on pest and predaceous species in agro-ecosystem to limit the excess use of pesticides (for Nepalese human life) • Many other things…in quite limited period…