New record of white grub species from Punjab and Jammu Kashmir (India)

Rec. zool. Surv. India: Vol. 125(1)/41-45, 2025 DOI: 10.26515/rzsi/v125/i1/2025/172794 ISSN (Online) : 2581-8686 ISSN (Print) : 0375-1511 Accepted: 21 January 2025 Revision Received: 14 January 2025 Introduction Coleoptera is one of the largest orders of class Insecta. It accounts for approximately one-fourth of all described animal species, with many more yet to be described (Grove & Stork, 2000). In Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae is the largest family, accounting for approximately 91% of all known scarabaeoids, or 27,800 species worldwide (Ratcliffe & Jameson, 2004). It has 106 tribes out of them; the Rhizotrogini tribe has 61 genera, the most common of which are, Sophrops Fairmaire, 1887, Holotrichia Hope, 1837,and Brahmina C.É. Blanchard, 1851. Melolonthinae Macleay, 1819 is the most speciose subfamily in the tribe Rhizotrogini, which includes May-June beetles (Hill, 2008). It is a widely distributed subfamily known from the Afrotropical, Palearctic, and Oriental regions, as per the website of the Catalogue of Life. In India, it has the genus Holotrichia Hope (1837) and Brahmina Blanchard (1851) that are predominant with major pest status (Theurkar et al., 2012; Rat & Abstract In India, Rhizotrogini is the major tribe of the subfamily Melolonthinae of the Scarabaeidae, known for its cosmopolitan nature. A frequent survey and monitoring for Rhizotrogini tribe species have been conducted in the locality of Phagwara Punjab and near Vaishno Devi Temple in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. It was conducted, during the April and June months of 2024 to ascertain the occurrence of various species from the locality. Mainly, it was conducted with the help of manual scouting at street lights and on different host trees. The overall survey revealed the occurrence of Holotrichia freyi Mittal and Pajni 1977 and Brahmina comata Blanchard 1850 from Punjab and Jammu regions of Jammu and Kashmir, India, respectively. It is the first record of H. freyi in Punjab and the first report of B. comata from the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. KeywordsKeywords:: Beetles, Brahmina, Holotrichia, North Region, Rhizotrogini New record of white grub species from Punjab and Jammu Kashmir (India) Mayank Kumar1* and Ajay Kumar Pandey2 1Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, VCSG, Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Pauri – 246123, Uttarakhand, India; E-mail: mayank[email protected] 2Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology Pantnagar, Tanda Range – 263145, Uttarakhand, India * Corresponding author Gavkare, 2014; Pathania & Chandel, 2017; Naveena et al., 2022). The genus Holotrichia consists of 105 species, while Brahmina consists of 3 subgenera and 76 species globally (Bánki et al., 2024). But surprisingly, they are poorly known (Smith, 2008). Concerning North India, the genus Holotrichia has occupied the status of a major pest in the plains of Uttar Pradesh and the hills of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir which caused a loss of up to 75% (Chandel et al., 2015). It has several species like Holotrichia consengunia C.É. Blanchard, 1851, H. serrata Fabricius, 1781, H. nagpurensis Khan & Ghai 1982, and H. longipennis Blanchard 1851, which are common in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand (Sreedevi et al., 2017; Subbanna et al., 2020; Kumar et al., 2021). Along with Holotrichia, Brahmina has also been recorded as the major pest species causing damage to various crops in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand (Pathania et al., 2012; Sreedevi et al., 2017). Their adults prefer to feed on the leaves of Vol 125(1) | 2025 | www.recordsofzsi.com Zoological Survey of India 42 New record of white grub species from Punjab and Jammu Kashmir (India) most trees, like neem, ber, prosopis, wild rose, apple, walnut, plum, apricot, etc., causing heavy defoliation of trees and crops (Mishra, 2001),while larvae feed on the underground portions of the plant, like roots, rootlets, tubers, etc., resulting in drying and wilting of the plants. In the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Haryana, whose geography is similar to that of other surrounding North Indian states, white grubs are also prone to this area. It requires frequent surveys to improve the status of white grub species in the localities. At present, alterations in farming patterns and climatic conditions, have contributed to variations in species distribution, resulting in a change in abundance and an even greater increase in the host range. In the last few decades, only a few people have contributed to its distribution in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab (Pal, 1981). It overall requires constant monitoring of species occurrence in a locality in order to document species abundance. Keeping things under consideration, a frequent survey was conducted to document the distribution of major species of white grubs in various localities of the Phagwara region of Kapurthala district, Punjab, and Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir. Materials and Methods For the collection and documentation of white grub species, survey and surveillance were carried out in different locations, i.e., Chak-Hakim Phagwara, Punjab and Katra trikut parvat in Jammu and Kashmir India located at 31.2460130N, 75.7037440E and 29 02’ 60.00”N to 79 30’59.99”E at an elevation of 245 and 1584.96 above mean sea level, respectively (Fig. 1). Phagwara is a village area in the Kapurthala district in the Northeastern part of Punjab. The major grown crops during the survey period were Rice, Sugarcane and Maize. Likewise, the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir is surrounded by the Pir Panjal Mountain range. The general terrain is moderate and appears as hill topography with deep gorges and ravines. The major crops grown in the states are paddy, maize, wheat, pulses, vegetables, flowers, etc. For the collection of adult beetles of Scarabaeidae species in 2024, a survey was conducted with the help of monitoring street lights and searching for the available host plants in the area. As the adult beetles come out from the soil in the evening and settle on the nearby plants and trees for feeding and mating, a manual search for the adult was carried out on the leaves of the avenue trees. This has been carried out by an intrinsic search on the branches of host trees with the help of a powerful torch at night. Finally, the collected adults by manual scouting from trees were brought to the laboratory. Before preservation, beetles were cleaned with the help of a camel hair brush followed by washing, drying and Fig. 1. Collection sites of white grub species during 2024. Vol 125(1) | 2025 | www.recordsofzsi.com Zoological Survey of India 43 Kumar and Pandey then finally preservation of beetles were done. Out of all collected beetles, a few samples of each species were preserved in 70% alcohol for their genitalia study, where they were killed with ethyl acetate, followed by pinning, spreading, drying, and finally storing in an insect cabinet. After drying, specimens along with labels were preserved in the insect collection boxes containing many wooden boxes supported with naphthalene balls and camphor on all corners (Walker & Crosby, 1979) For species confirmation, their male genitalia were removed from the abdomen of the alcohol preserved specimens. With the help of forceps, the male genitalia were extracted and were put in 10% KOH overnight to remove the muscles, and on the next day they, were finally glued to the card and stowed along with the specimens. The external morphological characters and genitalia of specimens were observed through a Nikon SMZ745T stereo zoom microscope. Images of the entire beetle were obtained with a Nikon D5600 digital camera, while images of the genitalia were compiled using Leica auto montage software. For identification, the following literature Blanchard (1850), Mittal and Pajni (1977), was utilized for identification and based on the morphology they were classified up to the general level. For species, their genitalia were extracted and parameres were observed for final confirmation. Finally, they were categorized and systematized at the group level and accordingly reported from the locations and discussed. Results Survey and collection from the aforesaid locations to document the species of white grubs revealed the first record of Holotrochia freyi Mittal and Pajni 1977 from the Phagwara region of Kapurthala district, Punjab. It also confirms it to be the first record of this species from Punjab. The species H. freyi was identified and confirmed on the basis of external morphological and genitalia characters (Fig. 2a, b). The genus Holotrichiais a group of complex species that are difficult to identify due to the continuous shifting of their positions in different domains. The genitalia characters, viz., a narrowed phallobase and strong posteriorly curved parameres with long, slightly clefted (before the apex) pointed plates, confirm it to be H. freyi. The endophellus is elongate, closely set, with a short dicluster of spines at the apex. The collected four specimens (2♂, 2♀) of Holotrichia beetles also revealed the presence of H. freyi, as evident by the strongly curved posteriorly parameres, dorsal plate, slightly clefted apex, and spiculam gastrale with Y-shaped sclerites and a median fleshy structure (Fig. 2b). Other than this, the external morphological characters like size (up to 19 mm), body (greyish white), dark legs, rounded clypeus, 10 segmented antennae, rounded lateral margins, tridentate foretibia, elytral structure, and most important genitalia characters determined the species as H. freyi. The white Fig. 2. Holotrichia freyi Mittal and Pajni 1977, (a) male; (b)male genitalia (dorsal view). Fig. 3. Brahmina comata Blanchard 1850, (a) male; (b) Male genitalia (Lateral view); (c) Dorsal view (Parameres). ab c b a Vol 125(1) | 2025 | www.recordsofzsi.com Zoological Survey of India 44 New record of white grub species from Punjab and Jammu Kashmir (India) grub species H. freyi was first briefly described and accordingly reported by Mittal & Pajni in 1977 from the Kurukshetra district of Haryana. To date, its distribution has been limited to Haryana. The occurrence of H. freyi in the Phagwara region of Kapurthala district of Punjab is the first report and thus documents a new distributional record. Regarding Brahmina comata Blanchard (1850), based on morphological studies, it was confirmed as B. comata. Its morphological characteristics like size (up to 12 mm), black body colour except for legs and antennae, which are reddish, sparsely hairy pronotum, densely hairy chest, tridentate foretibia, and genital shape confirm it to be B. comata (Fig. 3a). Its genitalia characters like strong phallobase, parameres almost ninety degrees to phallobase, and elongated symmetrical parameres with emerging structure from the middle containing serration at the tip confirm it to be B. comata (Fig. 3b). At present, its distribution is limited to West Bengal and North localities, as mentioned by Sabatinelli (1992) and Kumar et al., (2022). Recently, its collection form near Vaisho Devi Temple Reasi district confirmed it as the first documentation from Jammu and Kashmir. The first time B. comata was reported by Blanchard in 1850 and mentioned North locality as India. Further, it was mentioned by Barlow, 1899, in Indian museum notes, and Sabatinelli, 1992, in his monograph, as in the North locality. In the last two decades, it was reported from West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh (Sabatinelli, 1992; Pathania et al., 2015; Kumar et al., 2022). Now the occurrence of B. comata in the Reasi region of Jammu and Kashmir is the first report and thus documents the new distribution record. Discussion A manual scouting and host-based survey were conducted in Chak hakim of Phagwara Punjab and Vaishno Devi Temple track in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, in 2024. Overall survey revealed the occurrence of H. freyi and B. comata (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from the respective area. Their genitalia characters are important parameters to confirm them to be the same species. The new distributional record of these species from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir confirms it to be the new region. However, regarding its adult host plants, they are still in a mess which requires further research based on survey and monitoring. At now the host status of both species is not known, but other species of this group used to feed basically on a broad group of plants. For example, Holotrichia species mainly feed on Neem, Ber, Maize, Mango, Guava, and Jackfruit in plains, while other members of this group, including Brahmina spp., which are found in hilly areas, used to feed on the leaves of rose, apple, walnut, plum, apricot, etc. (Bhawane et al., 2012; Pathania et al., 2015; Kumar et al., 2021). Regarding its life cycle, it is also an important area to study other aspects of insect species in relation to with environment. Like species belonging to genera Holotrichia and Brahmina, usually they complete their life cycle annually (365 days) except for a few species, viz. Holotrichia karschi which requires only an average of 123 days or 4 months to complete its life cycle (Bhawane et al., 2011; Pathania & Chandel, 2017; Pathania et al., 2016; Rani et al., 2021). At now, Holotrichia freyi and Brahmina comata have not been recorded from any part of India as pests, but being in close relation to the pest species group, one cannot ignore the possibility of becoming a pest.So, Future research based on its life cycle, and host for both grub and adult could be more helpful to give new insight regarding the species. Acknowledgements The authors are thankful to Dr. Denis Keith (France) for confirmation of the Brahmina species, Dr. Devanshu Gupta (Scientist at ZSI), and GBPUAT for assisting in facilitating the research. References Bánki, O., Roskov, Y., Döiring, M., Ower, G., Hernández Robles, D.R., Plata Corredor, C.A., Stjernegaard Jeppesen, T., Örn, A., Vandepitte, L., Hobern, D., Schalk, P., DeWalt, R.E., Keping, M., Miller, J., Orrell, T., et al. 2024. Catalogue of Life Checklist (Annual Checklist 2023). Catalogue of Life. URL: https://doi.org/10.48580/dfsr Barlow, E. 1899. A list of Melolonthini is contained in the collection of Indian Museum. 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