~ 2119 ~
Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2018; 6(2): 2119-2122
E-ISSN: 2320-7078
P-ISSN: 2349-6800
JEZS 2018; 6(2): 2119-2122
© 2018 JEZS
Received: 05-01-2018
Accepted: 06-02-2018
Zubair Ahmed
Department of Zoology, Federal
Urdu University of Arts,
Sciences & Technology, Karachi,
Pakistan
Syed Anser Rizvi
Department of Zoology,
University of Karachi, Pakistan
Imran Khatri
Department of Entomology,
Sindh Agriculture University
Tandojam, Pakistan
Naeemuddin
Department of Zoology, Federal
Urdu University of Arts,
Sciences & Technology, Karachi,
Pakistan
Correspondence
Zubair Ahmed
Department of Zoology, Federal
Urdu University of Arts,
Sciences & Technology, Karachi,
Pakistan
Notes on faunistics of Aaata finchi Waterhouse
(1844) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) from Pakistan
Zubair Ahmed, Syed Anser Rizvi, Imran Khatri and Naeemuddin
Abstract
The monotypic species Aaata finchi Waterhouse (1844) is redescribed from Nushki, Balochistan,
Pakistan. Male and female genitalia, habitat and zoogeography also discussed with illustration. This
species confined specific month in mid of July with consistency of two years on muddy desert habitat
which have xerophytic plants of small bushes, runners and Tamarix plants. This species never described
with male genitalia even habitat was unknown; therefore it is first attempt to described it with various
aspects.
Keywords: buprestidae, Julodinae, Aaata finchi, faunistics, habitat, Pakistan
1. Introduction
Nushki is the small city of Balochistan Province, Pakistan and hotspot of biodiversity because
of sub-tropical ecozone with extended deserts of sand dunes, xerophytes variation and a marsh
lake in zanginawar which is near to union council, Dak
[2]
. The city is not well established and
not such agriculture fields, however, hard and dry mountains occupy the city. The biota of the
Nushki is entirely neglected. Unlike Thar Desert, Sindh, the area of Jamaldini, Dak,
Zanginawar and Anam Bostan are full landscapes of sand dunes with many runner species of
plants, Tamarix species rare here, only T. auriculata present in Zanginawar, which was the
collecting point
[2]
. The fauna of insects could be overlapped because Anam Bostan is the
border of Afghanistan and Pakistan (personal visit). The family Buprestidae is one of the
distinct groups of beetles with metallic colours. This family contains six subfamilies, in which
Julodinae is largest subfamily with their huge size
[4]
. The subfamily Julodinae Lacordaire,
1857 consists of six genera viz., Amblysterna Saunders, 1871; Julodis Eschscholtz, 1829;
Julodella Semenov-Tian-Shanskij 1893; Neojulodis Kereemans, 1902; Sternocera
Eschscholtz, 1829 and Aaata Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1906. The species Aaata finchi was
originally described by Waterhouse (1844) from Karachi under the genus Julodis, later
Semenov
[7]
transfer the species in the genus Aaata. Holm
[4]
revised the tribe Julodini with six
genera described and keyed out. He also discussed apomorphies of genera and illustrated with
their zoogeography and host plants. He did not describe male of Aata finchi because of
unavailability and just focused all characters on female
[4]
. In Pakistan, the systematics of
Buprestidae entirely neglected, however some taxonomic work were carried out but it was
fraction of work. There are two inventories but the species Aaata finchi has not recorded
[3], [1]
.
The flora of Karachi has rich with many variety of bushes and shrubs in past. In last century, it
was well known for hunting of large animals but after increase of human population, the
habitats of animals destroyed and after 80 years, the forest become diminished. The chance of
species Aata finchi Waterhouse
[8]
likely to present in past but it is now restricted to Nushki,
Balochistan, border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The members of Julodini with
distinction of Julodis widely distributed in Sindh and Balochistan provinces (personal
observation). We provide information of members of Julodinae in two provinces which show
great distance after long intermediate channel and it bears Julodis species which rather smaller
to Aaata finchi as well as plant discrimination.
2. Materials and Methods
The specimens of Aaata finchi were emerged in July beginning to mid of month. The area of
Nushki, Dak (Fig.1) contains mounds of mud desert which grow small bushes of xerophyte
plants. In 2016 and 2017, specimens were obtained in the same month but not abundantly