First record of Myrmeleon trivialis (Gerstaecker, 1885) (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) from the J&K UT (Kashmir Valley, India)

Myrmeleon trivialis was originally described by Gerstaecker in 1885 based on the description of one female specimen from Himalayas, India. However, this species is now widely spread in Pakistan, China, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. In India, it is known from Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and West Bengal. The present study communicates the new record of Myrmeleon trivialis from Kashmir Valley (Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, District Shopian), India. The study constitutes the first evidence of the occurrence of this species from the North-Western Himalayan Region of Kashmir Valley (Jammu and Kashmir, Union Territory) and extending the range of species into the Kashmir Himalayas. The addition of this species to the Jammu and Kashmir UT fauna makes a remarkable contribution to the Order Neuroptera, as the Neuropteran species from the Kashmir Himalayan region of India have been less explored compared to that of other Insect orders and families from the region.