NEW RECORDS OF EARTHWORMS FROM SUGAR-BELT OF HARYANA

Abstract

Efforts have been made in the present study to estimate the current status of earthworm diversity in sugar belt of Haryana (i.e., Kurukshetra and Yamuna Nagar). During the present study different locations were surveyed and three earthworm species Bismastos parvus (Eisen), Perionynx simlaensis (Michaelsen) and Dichogaster bolaui (Michaelsen), belonging to three different families were recorded. All the three species were epigeic in nature and reported for the first time from this belt of Haryana. In live condition P. simlaensis was found to be the largest worm measuring (90-190mm) and D. bolaui was the smallest (19-30mm) among the species. The recorded species were found in organic rich environment, but showed restricted distribution in the surveyed area.