Diversity and Relative Abundance of Insects (Arthropoda) in Pumpkin Plantations in District Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The Journal of Zoology Studies 2016; 3(3): 11-17

The Journal of Zoology Studies

Accepted: 26-05-2016 Author: Umama Fayyaz, Aisha Kausar, Kausar Saeed, Naveed Akhtar

Abstract Umama Fayyaz Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar, Pumpkin (Family: Cucurbitacae) is a nutritive and unique plant commonly used as vegetable all Pakistan around the world. Cucurbita species are cultivated worldwide with an annual production of 17.7 million tonnes from 1.4 million hectares. It is cultivated throughout Pakistan, as a Kharif crop Aisha Kausar Department of Zoology, with an annual production of 45217 tons from an area of 4027 hectares. The current survey was University of Peshawar, conducted to determine the diversity and relative abundance of insects in pumpkin plantation in Pakistan Distict Haripur. A total of 212 specimens belonging to 9 orders and 16 families as; order

Coleoptera (Family: Chyrsomelidae and Coccinelidae), order Lepidoptera (Family: Noctuidae Kausar Saeed Department of Zoology, and Pyralidae), Hemiptera (Family: Anthocridae and Pentatomidae), Homoptera (Family: Abdul Wali Khan University Aphididae and Cicadellidae) were collected. Insect population was abundant in October Mardan, Pakistan followed by September and dropped towards the July and August whereas Dermaptera,

Naveed Akhtar Lepidoptera and Hemiptera disappeared in the capture. This study is an effort towards exploring Department of Zoology, diversity and abundance of insect among selected host plants. Further extensive surveys can Abdul Wali Khan University resolve dynamics of insects (beneficial and destructive) population in the study area, which will Mardan, Pakistan eventually help determine their significance.

Keywords: Insects Abundance, Pumpkin, Haripur

1. Introduction

Cucurbitaceae is a fairly large family containing about 100 genera 800 species which are

essentially distributed in tropical or subtropical regions and relatively few species extending into [1] temperate climate (Rahman, 2013) . In Pakistan the family is represented by 17 genera and 32 [2] species (Perveen, 2008) . Cucurbitaceae is important as a source of food, like pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), melon (Cucumis melo), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), water melon (citrullus lanatus), bottle gourd (Lagineria siceraria) and sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica). Cucurbitaceae are used as fruits and vegetables, and most of them have economic value. Many species of this family are the sources of medicine. Some are widely cultivated in the field for vegetables and

food. A few taxa are also grown as ornamental plants (Rahman, 2013) [1].

In Pakistan pumpkin species is known as “squash” scientifically called as Cucurbeta pepo, having several varieties ranging from local round green to light green zucchini (Saljoqi et.al., 2007) [3]. Pumpkin is one of the famous edible plants and has significant medicinal properties Corresponding Author: due to the presence of natural and unique edible substances. It contains various phyto Umama Fayyaz constituents belonging to category of the flavenoid, alkaloid, oleic, palmitic and linoleic acids Department of Zoology, [4] University of Peshawar, (Yadav et.al., 2010) . Pakistan

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The pumpkin has been used traditionally as medicine were selected randomly throughout the field. Different in many countries such as India, China, Argentina, parts of the plants were also visualized for the presence Mexico, Brazil and America (Popovic M, 1971) [5], of insects. Pumpkin is cultivated worldwide with an annual production of 17.7 million tons from 1.4 million 2.4. Research Methodologies hectares. It is highly susceptible to frost and cultivated Insects were randomly collected by different methods. mainly during May/June and harvested around The collected insects were killed, larger insects were October. It is cultivated throughout Pakistan, as a pinned and dry preserved and small insects were Kharif crop with an annual production of 45217 tons preserved in 70% ethanol. In this study, methods of from an area of 4027 hectares (Rahim et.al., 2013) [6]. insects trapping employed were, hand capture for Pumpkin are blessed with anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, wingless insects, hand net for flying insects and pitfall anti-hypertension, anti-hypercholesterolemia, trap for soil dwelling or crawling insects. antibacterial, immunedulation, intestinal antiparasitic, anti-inflammation and antalgic effects. It was found 2.4.1. By hands and by using Forceps that technologies such as fermentation and germination The plants were visually observed for the presence of could reduce nutritional materials and affect the insects which were then collected in small plastic jars. pharmacological activities of pumpkin (Caili et.al., Slow moving insects were collected by hands and 2006) [7]. forceps.

In Pakistan, the pumpkin loss up to 27 % is reported 2.4.2 By beating and jerking method due to pests and insects, causing significantly Simple sheets were placed beneath the plants and the economic loss. Keeping in view the above mentioned insects were knocked down from the plant onto the facts and figures, the present study was aimed to sheet by beating with a stick or by simply jerking. The determine species composition and abundance of insects were then picked up from the sheet with aid of insects in the pumpkin plants in the study area in order forceps and placed into jars. to keep the economic injury level at a manageable level. 2.4.3. By sweep net The pollinator species were collected by using sweep 2. Materials and Methods nets. 2.1. Study area This research was carried out at two localities of 2.4.4. By pit fall method district Haripur, the selection of sites was based on the Water filled bottles were placed on the ground before presence and cultivation period of pumpkin. Haripur the sampling about one to two hours. Crawling insects “the town of Hari or God” is the District in the region or flying insects fall into the water which was then of Hazara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. The city captured from the bottles (Sharma et.al., 2013) [8]. lies on Karakoram Highway. It is adjacent to Federal capital of Islamabad i.e. in South, 65km away. It is 2.5. Insect preservation bounded by District Abbottabad to the North East, by The insects were then preserved in 70% alcohol or Swabi and Buner to the North West and Punjab to the 70% formalin. The bottles were labeled with the South East. Hilly plain area at an altitude of 520m information like: (1700ft) above the sea level. It has latitude 3 - 1. Collection date and longitude - 2. Locality. 3. Plant part. 2.2. Sampling site Insect sampling was done during July to November, 2.6. Laboratory processing 2015 from two selected localities where the host plant After preservation, collected insects were brought to was cultivated which are; Entomology Research lab, Department of Zoology University of Peshawar. The insects were grouped into 2.2.1. Insect sampling orders and families based on their morphological Collections of various insects group was done characteristics using identification keys. The genera fortnightly between July to November, 2015 from three and species names of some insect specimens were fields of the pumpkin in District Haripur. The insect identified. Some online sources and pictorial keys sampling was carried out in the early hours of the day were also used for identification. as insects are active and easily observed at early sun rise. Plant feeder insects (phytophagous) were easy to 2.7. Taxonomic keys for identification locate on their hosts during sun rise. The host plants Taxonomic keys used for identification purposes were;

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2.7.1 Dichotomous Key Dichotomous key (divided or dividing into two parts) 3.1 Taxonomic composition key, offering two alternatives at any point for the A total of 212 insect specimens were collected from identification at various levels. (Keyto Common Insect pumpkin plants during the present survey. Nine insects Orders. University of Kentucky). orders were identified; Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Homoptera, 3. Results Thysanoptera, Dermaptera and Orthoptera. Sixteen The present study was carried out to determine insect different families; Chrysomelidae, Coccinellidae, diversity and relative abundance in cucurbit fields in Apidae, Vespidae, Bombidae, Formicidae, district Haripur and to determine the status of different Phloethripidae, Forficulidae, Cicadellidae, Aphididae, insect groups. The insect sampling was done during Pentatomidae, Anthocoridae, Acrididae, Noctuidae, July to November 2015 from randomly selected plants Pyralidae and Culicidae were collected (Fig 3.1). throughout the field. The insect collection was carried Among the different orders, Chrysomelidae was the out in the early hours of the day as they are active and most abundant family in terms of number of specimens easily observed at early sun rise. Sampling was done while hymenoptera was the most diverse in terms of by various methods like using forceps, beating and highest number of families (4). Family Apidae was jerking method, pitfall method and by using sweep represented by genus Apis, Bombidae was represented nets. The collected specimens were identified up to by Bombus while Vespidae by polistes. order and family level while some insects were identified up to genus level by using taxonomic identification keys.

Fig 3.1: Insect orders and families recorded from pumpkin plantation in district Haripur from July to Nov, 2015

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3.2 Relative abundance and distribution of insect November, order Lepidoptera was observed from orders September to November. Both the order Thysanoptera Results clearly showed that total number of orders was and Homoptera were sampled in four months, higher in September (8 orders) followed by October (7 Lepidoptera, Dermeptera and Hemiptera were recorded orders). Order Coleoptera and Hymenoptera was in three months during the study period (Table 3.1). sampled throughout the study period i.e. from July to

Table 3.1: Monthly occurrences of insect orders

ODER NAME JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER Coleoptera + + + + + Lepidoptera - - + + + Hymenoptera + + + + + Dermaptera - - + + + Hemiptera + - + + - Diptera - + - - - Thysanoptera + + + + - Homoptera + + + + - Orthoptera + - + - -

3.2.1 Relative number of insects orders during was reported during August while Diptera (2 study period: specimens) recorded in July and September. The overall relative abundance of insects associated with the pumpkin plants during the July 2015- The study revealed that most abundant order was November 2015 is shown in table 2. Result shows the Coleoptera (56%), Lepidoptera were recorded with highest abundance of order Coleoptera with a total of (13%), Hymenoptera (8%), Homoptera (7%) and 119 specimens collected throughout the study period. Thysanoptera with (6%). The relative abundance of The second most abundant order was Lepidoptera (28 Dermaptera was (3%), while Diptera and Orthoptera specimens), followed by order Hymenoptera (17) were only (1%). (Fig 3.2). individual insects). Order Hemiptera (2 specimens)

Table 3.2: Relative abundance of insect orders during July to November 2015

ODER NAME JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER Total Coleoptera 4 2 38 72 3 119 Hymenoptera 1 2 5 7 2 17 Lepidoptera 0 0 5 20 3 28 Diptera 0 2 0 0 0 2 Dermaptera 0 0 2 2 3 7 Homoptera 4 7 1 2 0 14 Hemiptera 3 0 2 6 0 11 Thysanoptera 2 2 4 4 0 12 Orthoptera 1 0 1 0 0 2

3.2.2 Monthly occurrence of insect’s families the study time while the Coccinellidae was absent in The monthly occurrence of reported families; August and November. Chrysomelidae, Coccinellidae, Apidae, Vespidae, The families of Lepidoptera; Noctuidae and Pyralidae Bombidae, Formicidae, Phloethripidae, Forficulidae, were clearly observed during September and October Cicadellidae, Aphididae, Pentatomidae, Anthocoridae, while Noctuidae was collected in November only. The Acrididae, Noctuidae, Pyralidae and Culicidae is presence of Hymenopterans families was with different presented in table 3.3. Results show that family pattern; Vespidae present only in September while Chrysomelidae of Coleoptera was present throughout Apidae (July, August and October), Bombidae

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(September, October and November), Formicidae Phloethripidae of Thysanoptera found throughout study (September and October). period except November and Culicidae was only present in August. Forficulidae of Dermaptera was Cicadellidae of Homoptera was only found during examined during September, October and November. August and Aphididae during July and August.

Table 3.3: Occurrence of insect families during study period

Orders Families July August September October November Chrysomelidae + + + + + Coleoptera Coccinellidae + - + + - Noctuidae - - + + + Lepidoptera Pyralidae - - + + - Vespidae - - + - - Apidae + + - + - Hymenoptera Bombidae - - + + + Formicidae - - + + - Cicadellidae - - - + - Homoptera Aphididae + + - - - Pentatomidae + - - - - Hemiptera Anthocoridae + - + + - Diptera Culicidae - + - - - Thysanoptera Phloethripidae + + + + - Orthoptera Acrididae + - + - - Dermaptera Forficulidae - - + + +

3.2.3 The relative abundance of insect families Thysanoptera) showed the same percentage i.e. 5.66%. The insects associated with pumpkin plants varied with Aphididae (Family: Homoptera) was recorded with different months as presented in table 3.4 Red pumpkin 5.18% of collection and anthocoridae (4.24%).Other beetle (Aulucophora abdominalis) was found to be families like Coccinellidae showed 1.4% abundance, most abundant specimen 55.1%. The Noctuidae was in Apidae, Formicidae, Cicadellidae, Pentatomidae and abundance with 10.3%. The Bombidae (Family: Acrididae with the same percentage i.e. 0.94%. Hymenoptera) and Phloethripidae (Family:

Table 3.4: Number and % of insect families during survey

Families July August September October November Total Percentage Chrysomelidae 2 2 39 71 3 117 55.1 % Coccinellidae 2 0 0 1 0 3 1.4% Noctuidae 0 0 4 15 3 22 10.3% Pyralidae 0 0 1 5 0 6 2.8% Vespidae 0 0 1 0 0 1 0.47% Apidae 1 1 0 0 0 2 0.94% Bombidae 0 0 3 7 2 12 5.66% Formicidae 0 1 1 0 0 2 0.94% Cicadellidae 0 0 0 2 0 2 0.94% Aphididae 4 7 0 0 0 11 5.18% Pentatomidae 2 0 0 0 0 2 0.94% Anthocoridae 1 0 2 6 0 9 4.24% Culicidae 0 2 0 0 0 2 0.94% Phloethripidae 2 2 4 4 0 12 5.66%

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Forficulidae 0 0 2 2 3 7 3.30% Acrididae 1 0 0 1 0 2 0.94% Total 15 15 57 114 11 212

4. Discussions from 70-15% as the leaf canopy increases. During the Cucurbits are commercially important in many parts of present study highest number of red pumpkin beetle the world and have a unique status among summer were reported in months of August, September and vegetables. Cucurbits are mostly grown in tropical and October. The results are not agreement with study done subtropical conditions but some of the vegetables like by (Saljoqi et.al., 2007) [3] who reported the a undance cucumber are grown in temperate zone under artificial of red pumpkin eetle decreases during these months conditions. Cucurbitacae vegetables; cucumber, He also concluded that temperature - and pumpkin, squash, water melon, muskmelon, round relative humidity 30-82% had a favorable effect on the gourd and bitter gourd constitute an important group of pest prevalence. (Saljoqi et.al., 2007) [3] carried out vegetables having homogenous cultural requirements, studies on relative abundance of Red Pumpkin Beetle, almost same diseases and same type of insect fauna. Aulacophora foveicollis L. in Peshawar. It was found to cause damage to cucurbits at both larval and adult The present study was conducted to determine the stages; Damage caused by red pumpkin beetle may faunal composition, relative abundance of insects on range 35 to 75 %. the pumpkin plantations in different localities of district Haripur. Sampling of insects was done using Beetles start attack right after the germination and various methods like using forceps, beating and jerking slower down the growth of plants due to serious attack. method, pitfall method and by using sweep nets for a Both adult and larvae stage attack on the pumpkin. period of five months i.e. July 2015 to November 2015. This observation matched with (Khan, 2015) [11] who A total of 212 specimens of insects belonging to nine did study on relative abundance of red pumpkin in orders were reported from the study area i.e. 2013 in Chakwal. Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Diptera, Dermaptera, Thysanoptera and (Waage, 1991) [12] stated that Arthropod herbivore Orthoptera. suppression by their natural enemies involves at least 50% of all species on earth. Highest % of natural During this study 16 families belonging to nine orders enemies or predators collected from the cucurbit plants were reported. Order Hymenoptera was the diverse were belonging to order Hymenoptera, Hemiptera and group represented by 4 families while Coleoptera was Coleoptera. The presence of these insects may be the most abundant insect order. This result differs from indicative their significance as natural enemies of pest the results of (Sharma et.al., 2013) [8] where order species. Lepidoptera was found to be the most abundant order. The differences may be due to different sampling The present study also reported the presence of method, host plants and ecology. Ladybird beetle (Family Coccinellidae) observed during July and October showed 1.4% of total relative Other insect pest reported during the study was aphids, abundance percentage. It was reported earlier from leaf hopper, thrips, red pumpkin beetle, bugs and variety of host plant in different parts of Pakistan caterpillars of Lepidoptera. The presence of these (Gilani, 1976) [13], (Shah, 1985) [14]. Data regarding insects is in agreement with the results of (Sarwar, their hosts, biology, ecology and biotic potential of 2014) [9] who studied insect pests of summer coccinellids of Pakistan was also compiled. vegetables including pumpkin. Similarity in the existence of insects identified in the studies may be due The current study uncovered three important families to selection of same host plant. Apidae, Vespidae and Bombidae from order Hymenoptera. The large and monoecious flowers of Red pumpkin beetle of the family Chrysomelidae were pumpkin produce copious nectar and pollen and attract found in higher density indicating red pumpkin beetle a wide array of insect visitors, particularly bees to be an important pest of the Pumpkin. This is in (Nicodemo et.al., 2009) [15]. These results were in agreement to the report by (Rashid et.al., 2014) [10]. It agreement with result reported by (Ali et.al., 2013) [16] was regarded as one of the most serious pest of with respect to collection of hymenopteran insects cucurbits, attacks every stage of cucurbits and it can from litcti plants from district Haripur. cause heavy loss to all cucurbits except bitter gourd. It feed underside the cotyledonous leaves by biting holes into them. Percent damage rating gradually decreases

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5. Conclusions journal of Enviromental Science Development The result obtained could be useful baseline and Monitoring. 2013; 4(3): 4-11. information for further research on insect diversity, 9. Sarwar M. Some Insect Pests (Artropoda: relative abundance of beneficial and harmful insects Insecta) of summer vegetables, their and control of insect pests in study areas in order to Identification, occurrence, damage and have an informed decision which might be of great adoption of management practices. benefit economically. International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Research. 2014; 1(4): 108-117. 6. References 10. Rashid MA, Khan MA, Javed N. Red 1. Rahman M. Systematic studies on pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis; cucurbitaceae family at Rajshahi division, Areview of Host suspectibility and Bangladesh. Plant. 2013; 1(2): 10-15. Management practices. Academic Journal of 2. Perveen A, Qaiser M. Pollen flora of Pakistan Entomology. 2014; 7(1): 38-54. –LVI. Cucurbitaceae. Pak. J. Bot. 2008; 40(1): 11. Khan SA. Relative preference of red pumpkin 9-16. beetle on different major cucurbit vegetables. 3. Saljoqi AUR, Shahbaz K. Relative abundance Pakistan Entimologist. 2015; 37(1): 45-47. of the red pumpkin beetle, aulacophora 12. Waage JK. Biodiversity as a resource for foveicophora lucas, on different biological control. In The Biodiversity of cucurbitaceous vegetables. Sarhad Journal of Microorganisms and Invertebrates: Its Role in Agriculture. 2007; 23: 109-114. Sustainable Agriculture, ed. DL Hawksworth, 4. Yadav M, Jain S, Tomar R, Prasad GB, Yadav pp. 49–63. Wallingford, United Kingdom: H. Medicinal and Biological potential of CAB International, 1991. Pumpkin: an updated review. Nutr Res Rev. 13. Gilani WA. Studies on the predaceous 2010; 23(2): 184-190. Coccinellidae of LyalPur. Unpublished 5. Popovic M. On growing squash and pumpkin Thesis, M.sc. (Hons) Entomology Department (cucurbita sp.) in Yugoslavia. Savremena of Agriculture University Faisalabad. 1976: Polioprivreda. 1971; 11-12: 59-71. 81-87. 6. Rahim S, Dawar S, Zaki J. Mycoflora 14. Shah ZM. Ladybird Beetles (Coccinellidae: associated with the seed samples of Cucurbita Coleoptera) of Peshawar region. M. Sc. pepo L. collected from Pakistan. Pak. J.Bot. (Hons) Thesis. Deptt, of Entomology NWFP 2013; 45(6): 2173-2179. Agric Univ. Peshawar. 1985; 109. 7. Caili F, Huan S, Quanhong L. A Review on 15. Nicodemo D, Couto RHN, Malheiros EB, De Pharmacological Activities and Utilization jong D. Honey bee as an effective pollinating Technologies of Pumpkin. Plant Food for agent of pumpkin. Scientia. Agricola. 2009; Human Nutrition. 2006; 61: 73-80. 66: 476-480. 8. Sharma AK, Bisen UK. Taxonomic 16. Ali S, Shehzad A, Rafi AM, Zia A. Insect documentation of insect fauna of vegetable Pollinators (Litchi Chinesis) From District ecosystem collected in light trap. International Haripur, Pakisatan.Pakistan J. Agric.Res. 2013; 1(3):220-229.

Fayyaz U, Kausar A, Saeed K, Akhtar N. Diversity and relative abundance of insects (Arthropoda) in pumpkin plantations in District Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Journal of Zoology Studies. 2016; 3(3):11-17.

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