Community Structure of Ladybird Beetles (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) Alongside the Chenab River at Wazirabad, Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan
Community Structure of Ladybird Beetles (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) Alongside the Chenab River at Wazirabad, Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan
Mubashar Hussain*, Takhmina Nazir and Muhammad Faheem Malik
ABSTRACT
Coccinellid beetles (ladybird beetles) are valuable biological pest control agents in all terrestrial landscapes including agroecosystems. Agricultural intensification contributes to the decline of these pest predators mainly due to pesticides, habitat reduction, and decreased food availability. Here, we explored the diversity of ladybird beetles in croplands alongside the river Chenab at Wazirabad. We collected coccinellid beetles from seven sampling sites (Behram, Wazirabad City, Khanki, Burj Cheema, Tahli da Kot, Rasool Nagar and Kot Har Auddin) by handpicking and sweeping aerial net fortnightly during 2016-2017. A total of 4589 individuals were recorded that belonged to 13 species representing six genera, three tribes and three subfamilies. The results showed that maximum number of species belong to genus Epilachna (five species) and Coccinella (four species) which make them most diverse genera. Coccinella septempunctata (16.40%) was the most dominant species followed by Coccinella undecimpunctata (12.83%) whereas Epilachna varivestis (1.61%) was the least abundant species. The results of diversity indices showed lowest Simpson index value (1-D= 0.89) in Rasool Nagar which is indication of high diversity. Maximum species richness was recorded at Behram (H’: 2.47) whereas greater evenness was recorded at Burj Cheema (e^H/S: 0.89). This quantitative assessment of coccinellids from riverside fauna indicated the conservatory impact of the habitat on lady bird beetles.
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