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<p>Termites are predominant fauna in tropical ecosystems, however, in the Himachal Pradesh region of north-western Himalaya, the understanding of their distribution pattern remains limited. Himachal Pradesh is characterized by diverse agro-climatic conditions extending from subtropical in the lowlands to temperate at higher altitudes. Therefore, an extensive survey was conducted to understand the diversity and distribution of termite fauna along the elevational gradient (between 400 and 2850&#xa0;m). A total of 26 species of termites belonging to 16 genera under five families, Archotermopsidae, Kalotermitidae, Stylotermitidae, Heterotermitidae and Termitidae were collected during the study. The results based on random expert sampling method involving the active searching of termites in their preferred microhabitats, indicated a decline in diversity of termites with the increasing elevation. A total of 22 species were recorded from zone I (&lt; 1000&#xa0;m elevation), followed by 14 species in zone II (1001-1500&#xa0;m) and 4 species in zone III (1501-2500&#xa0;m). In zone IV (&gt; 2500&#xa0;m ), only single species was recorded. The distribution of <i>Archotermopsis wroughtoni</i> was observed in higher elevations (&gt; 1400&#xa0;m), where as <i>Neotermes bosei</i> and <i>Stylotermes faveolus</i> were found confined to zone II. The Bray-Curtis similarity index indicated 39.00% similarity between zone I and II. Termitidae was recorded as most diverse family representing 21 species. Six genera i.e., <i>Eremotermes</i>, <i>Euhamitermes</i>, <i>Indotermes</i>, <i>Microcerotermes</i>, <i>Nasutitermes</i> and <i>Pericapritermes</i>; and eight species i.e., <i>Eremotermes dehraduni</i>, <i>Euhamitermes lighti</i>,<i> Indotermes capillosus</i>,<i> Microcerotermes beesoni</i>, <i>Microcerotermes fletcheri</i>, <i>Microcerotermes labioangulatus</i>, <i>Pericapritermes dunensis</i> and <i>Nasutitermes dunensis</i> were recorded for the first time from Himachal Pradesh. The most commonly recorded species in Himachal Pradesh based on frequency of occurance were <i>Odontotermes parvidens</i> (18.88%), <i>Odontotermes obesus</i> (17.81%), <i>Microtermes obesi</i> (12.88%), <i>Heterotermes indicola</i> (11.80%) and <i> Angulitermes dehraensis</i> (6.44%). The study provides insight into the distribution pattern of termites in the north-western Himalaya; and the recorded termite fauna in Himachal Pradesh has increased to 36 species, under 16 genera and five families.</p>

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Diversity of termites (Blattodea: Isoptera) along the elevation gradient in North-Western Himalaya, with new records from Himachal Pradesh, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月20日

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  • Himanshu Thakur,
  • Kuldeep Singh Verma,
  • Ravinder Singh Chandel,
  • Chicknayakanahalli Marulasiddappa Kalleshwaraswamy

摘要

Termites are predominant fauna in tropical ecosystems, however, in the Himachal Pradesh region of north-western Himalaya, the understanding of their distribution pattern remains limited. Himachal Pradesh is characterized by diverse agro-climatic conditions extending from subtropical in the lowlands to temperate at higher altitudes. Therefore, an extensive survey was conducted to understand the diversity and distribution of termite fauna along the elevational gradient (between 400 and 2850 m). A total of 26 species of termites belonging to 16 genera under five families, Archotermopsidae, Kalotermitidae, Stylotermitidae, Heterotermitidae and Termitidae were collected during the study. The results based on random expert sampling method involving the active searching of termites in their preferred microhabitats, indicated a decline in diversity of termites with the increasing elevation. A total of 22 species were recorded from zone I (< 1000 m elevation), followed by 14 species in zone II (1001-1500 m) and 4 species in zone III (1501-2500 m). In zone IV (> 2500 m ), only single species was recorded. The distribution of Archotermopsis wroughtoni was observed in higher elevations (> 1400 m), where as Neotermes bosei and Stylotermes faveolus were found confined to zone II. The Bray-Curtis similarity index indicated 39.00% similarity between zone I and II. Termitidae was recorded as most diverse family representing 21 species. Six genera i.e., Eremotermes, Euhamitermes, Indotermes, Microcerotermes, Nasutitermes and Pericapritermes; and eight species i.e., Eremotermes dehraduni, Euhamitermes lighti, Indotermes capillosus, Microcerotermes beesoni, Microcerotermes fletcheri, Microcerotermes labioangulatus, Pericapritermes dunensis and Nasutitermes dunensis were recorded for the first time from Himachal Pradesh. The most commonly recorded species in Himachal Pradesh based on frequency of occurance were Odontotermes parvidens (18.88%), Odontotermes obesus (17.81%), Microtermes obesi (12.88%), Heterotermes indicola (11.80%) and Angulitermes dehraensis (6.44%). The study provides insight into the distribution pattern of termites in the north-western Himalaya; and the recorded termite fauna in Himachal Pradesh has increased to 36 species, under 16 genera and five families.