Metrocoris nigrofasciatus Distant, 1903

Kharkongor, Ilona Jacinta, Saikia, Uttam, Khynriam, Dimos & Saikia, Bhaskar, 2023, Current status of faunal diversity of Siju Cave, South Garo Hills, Meghalaya, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 123 (3), pp. 283-303 : 297

32. Metrocoris nigrofasciatus Distant, 1903

1903. Metrocoris nigrofasciatus Distant, Fascic. Malayenses, Zool. , 1: 257, pl.xv, Fig. 9 .

Material examined: 2 ex. Siju Cave (~ 50-100m inside the Cave), Siju village, South Garo Hills District , Meghalaya, 25 o 21.061’N, 90 o 41.006’E, 119m, 03.i.2020, coll. I. J. Kharkongor & party, Reg. No. IV / HEM /ERS-868 .

Remarks: Kemp and China (1924) had recorded the occurrence of Metrocoris nigrofasciatus inside the Siju Cave based on collections made at 300ft., 400 ft. and 2000ft. from the cave entrance, and opined that it was a mere straggler and not a resident of the Cave.In the present study, only a few specimens of this species were observed well within the twilight zone of the Cave. Although they do not live or breed inside the cave, they do frequent the cave and utilize the limited food supply available there. The senior author has, on several occasions, observed the species in the caves of the East Jaiñtia Hills area besides Siju Cave and, though the species is not a cave resident, it should be considered a component of the fauna of the caves where they are found.

Figures

Figure 9. Fauna of Siju Cave. G. Cubaris cavernosus, H. Metassamia septemdentata, I. Heteropoda robusta, J. Typhloblatta caeca, K. Kempiola longipes and L. Tachys micraulax.