Distribution, diversity and roles of insects in mulberry plantation

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/01/2022
Views (646) Download (94)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Distribution, diversity and roles of insects in mulberry plantation

Elizabeth P Obra
J. Bio. Env. Sci.20( 1), 85-92, January 2022.
Certificate: JBES 2022 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

This study investigated the distribution, diversity and roles of insects in mulberry (Morus alba var. Alfonso) plantation that utilized survey and insect collection in January and September of 2019, reflecting the cool-dry and wet seasons respectively and the Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H) was employed to measure insect diversity and evenness. The abundant insects in all collecting seasons belong to insect order Lepidoptera (larvae) that accounted for 38%, Collembola (14%), Hymenoptera (11%), Hrmiptera (9%), and 8% for other arthropods while the insect diversity and evenness (H), were 2.28 and 0.82 for cool-dry season; and 1.954 and 0.762 for rainy season while t-test results exemplified similar insect diversity and evenness on both collecting seasons though some insects were abundant during rainy days. There were beneficial insects like some Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Odonata, Orthoptera and other arthropods as natural enemies to insect pest; some were considered as pests and identified as defoliators (Lepidopteran larvae), sap suckers (Hemiptera and Homoptera), borers (Coleoptera) and some were pests inhabiting the soil (Isoptera). Collembolans were abundant in the soil as well which aid in the decomposition of organic matter forming soil microstructure and the recycling of nutrients to be used by mulberry plants for growth and development. Physical control measures such as individually picking the insects and removing the damaged parts of the mulberry are recommended to prevent further damage on mulberry plants. Intensified planning of mulberry pruning for silkworm rearing shall be considered so as not to coincide with excessive population of detrimental insects.

VIEWS 141

Amna Ghani and Sadia Maalik. 2020. Assessment of diversity and relative abundance of insect fauna associated with Triticum aestivum from district Sialkot, Pakistan, Journal of King Saud University – Science, Volume 32, Issue 1, Pages 986-995, ISSN 1018-3647.

Ayan Das, Bimal Mondal and Hirak Chatterjee. 2021. Population Dynamics of Major Insect Pests and Their Predatory Fauna in Mulberry. Indian Journal of Entomology 83(3), 310-314.

Coleman D. 2013. Soil Biota, Soil Systems, and Processes. Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, 2nd Ed. Levin, Ed. in Chief. Academic Press. USA

Gibb T, Oseto C. 2019. Insect Collection and Identification. Techniques for the Field and Laboratory. 2nd ed. Academic Press.

Innocenti G, Sabatini MA. 2018. Collembola and plant pathogenic, antagonistic and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: a review. Bulletin of Insectology 71. ISSN 1721-8861. Italy.

Lalitha N. 2018. Species Diversity of Predators on Sucking Pest Complex in Mulberry Gardens of West Bengal. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies.

Mahesha HB. 2018. Pests of Mulberry (Powerpoint slides). Retrieved from www.hbmahesh.weebly.com

Raj M. 2016. Methods of Collecting Invertebrates (Powerpoin slides). Retrieved from https://www. slideshare.net/goodmoments/methods-for-collecting -invertebrates.

Sakthivel N. 2019. Mulberry Pests, Current Status and Management Practices. Technical Bulletin. Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Sirampura, Mysura 570-008.

Santhi AM, Kumar SP. 2010. Diversity of insects in the mulberry ecosystem. The Silkworm, July 25, 2010. http://silkwormmori.blogspot.com/2010/07/ diversity-of-insects-in-mulberry.html.

Seong-Joon Park, Heon-Myoung Lim, Do-Sung Kim, 2014. A survey on Insect Diversity of Baengnyeongdo, Korea, Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, Volume 7, Issue 3, Pages 268-280, ISSN 2287-884X.

Siddiki, Aishatu. 2015. Insect diversity and composition during the wet and dry seasons in three forest types of Johor, Malaysia. Master’s thesis, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia.

Ugwu, J.A. and Ojo, M.O. 2015. Diversity of Insects in Mulberry Ecosystem in IbadanSouth Western Nigeria. Research Journal of Forestry 9(2), 58-64, 2015. ISSN 1819-3439.