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Diversity of Insects in Sweet Gourd Field of Bangladesh

Nabanita Paul Nancy
Department of Entomology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Md Ruhul Amin
Department of Entomology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Md Ramiz Uddin Miah
Department of Entomology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Md Giashuddin Miah
Department of Agroforestry and Environment, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh during September 2016 to June 2017 to observe abundance and diversity of insects in sweet gourd Cucurbita moschata. The sweet gourd cultivated in winter season revealed significantly shorter durations in production of more than one flower, fruit formation, fruit elongation, fruit maturation for harvest and fruit maturation for seed production compared to summer season. The pest, predator, pollinator and other category insects visited in the field showed significant difference in their abundance, richness and diversity, and the pests and predators were statistically similar and higher compared to pollinators and other category. In total 409 insects were collected of which 130 were in winter and 279 were in summer, and the insects in the order Coleoptera was most abundant in both the seasons. Of the total collected species, 11 species were pest and their relative abundance varied from 0.05 to 2.57 per 30 sweeps. In total 8 species of insects were predator and their relative abundance ranged from 0.24 to 2.24 per 30 sweeps. The pollinator insets showed the highest and lowest abundance was at 09.00 and 13.00 h of the day, respectively both in winter and summer.

Keywords: Bactrocera cucurbitae, Insect, Abundance, Diversity, Pest, Predator

Location: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-09-2016

End Date: 00-06-2017

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Insects, Sweet gourd

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to assess the abundance and diversity of insects in sweet gourd field and to identify the pest and predator insects.

Methodology:

The study was conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur, Bangladesh during September 2016 to June 2017. The study site is located at 25°25' North latitude and 89°5' East longitude, which is in the middle of Bangladesh. The study area has a sub-tropical climate having annual mean maximum and minimum temperatures, relative humidity o and rainfall 36.0 and 12.7 C, 65.8% and 237.6 cm, respectively. Cultivation of sweet gourd: Sweet gourd (Cucurbita moscheta) was cultivated in 3.0 × 3.0 m plots in summer and winter seasons. Fertilizers were applied according to Fertilizer Recommendation Guide (FRG, 2012) (N- 120 kg, P- 70 kg, K- 40 kg, S- 20 kg per hectare). The sowing dates in winter and summer were 02 November 2016 and 15 March 2017. Each plot contained 5 rows and each row had 5 pits apart from 60 cm. After emergence of seedlings the plants were supported by bamboo scaffold to facilitate creeping. Collection, identification and counting the abundance of insects: Free-living insects were collected by using a 30 cm diameter sweep net having 1.5 mm mesh and attached with a 2 m long rod. Every week sweeping was done in between 09:00 to 11:00 h of the day, and each sample was consisted of 30 sweeps. The collected insects were identified to genus or species level following morphological characters and compared to the museum specimens and were categorized as pest, predator, pollinator and other (unknown) category. Observation of the foraging time of pollinator insects: To find out the peak foraging time of the pollinators, data was collected for seven days at 07.00, 09.00, 11.00 and 13.00 h of the day during blooming of the plants. At every hour sweeping was done 30 times. The mean abundance of insects per 30 sweeps at different hours of the days was calculated. Data analysis: The species richness (total number of species) and diversity (Simpson Index of Diversity (Simpson 1949) were calculated and the data were analyzed by one way analysis of variance. All the analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 19.0.

Source of Information: Indian Journal of Ecology (2018) 45(4): 854-857

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The abundance of insects in sweet gourd field at different time of the day in winter and summer varied from 5.1 to 26.6 and 4.9 to 33.7 per 30 sweeps, respectively and the results differed significantly. Insect abundance was the highest and lowest at 09.00 and 13.00 h of the day, respectively both in winter and summer. The peak foraging activity of the pollinators was observed at 09.00 h of the day because at that time most of the flowers opened and the air temperature and light intensity were sufficient for insect activity. The result obtained from this study could be useful baseline information for further research on insect diversity, relative abundance of beneficial and harmful insects and control of insect pests in sweet gourd field.

Knowledge Management: Journal