Impact of Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG on Arthropod Biodiversity in Bhendi
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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(1): 847-855 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2017; 5(1): 847-855 Impact of emamectin benzoate 5% SG on © 2017 JEZS arthropod biodiversity in bhendi ecosystem Received: 24-11-2016 Accepted: 25-12-2016 A Kuzhandhaivel Pillai A Kuzhandhaivel Pillai, M Ganesh Kumar, S Kuttalam, K Gunasekaran Assistant Professor, Don Bosco and SV Krishnamurthy College of Agriculture, Sagayathottam, Takkolam, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India Abstract A field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of emamectin benzoate 5% SG on arthropod M Ganesh Kumar diversity in bhendi during March-May, 2014 in Coimbatore. Two rounds of a spray of emamectin Professor (Retd.), Department of benzoate 5% SG were given at fourteen days interval starting from 38 days after sowing (DAS). In other Agricultural Entomology, Tamil hand an unsprayed field was maintained. The sampling of arthropods were made using four different Nadu Agricultural University, methods viz., active searching, net sweeping, pitfall trap and rubbish trap. The collected arthropods were Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India sorted out, identified to the lowest possible taxon and the biodiversity indices were estimated. A total of S Kuttalam 4093 individuals belonging to 63 species, 43 families and 11 orders in both sprayed and unsprayed okra Former Professor and Head, field were collected. The unsprayed okra field recorded a total of 2388 individuals, whereas sprayed field Department of Agricultural recorded a total of 1705 individuals. The class Insecta (51 species) was the most dominant followed by Entomology, Tamil Nadu Arachnida (12 species). In Insecta, exopterygota were represented by four orders and endopterygota were Agricultural University, represented by five orders. Spiders belonging to eleven species, nine genera and six families were Coimbatore. Tamil Nadu, India recorded. The family Lycosidae (104 individuals) was found to be dominant followed by Salticidae (85 individuals). Family Lycosidae was represented by two species viz., Lycosa sp. and Pardosa birmanica K Gunasekaran Simon. The biodiversity indices were worked out, and the alpha diversity indices viz., Species richness Professor and Head, Department indices (Species number, Fishers’ alpha index and Shannon-Weiner index), species dominance index of Plant Protection, ADAC & RI (Simpson’s index) and evenness index revealed that maximum value were recorded in unsprayed fields (TNAU), Trichy, Tamil Nadu, than sprayed fields especially at the time of spraying and the population increased two weeks after the India spray. The comparison of beta diversity in sprayed and unsprayed fields, indicated that, based on ordinal, familial, generic and species level, all the indices values were higher in sprayed field than the unsprayed SV Krishnamurthy Professor and Head, Department field. Higher arthropod diversity recorded in unsprayed field than the sprayed field. of Sericulture, Forest College and Research Institute (TNAU), Keywords: Emamectin benzoate, impact, arthropod biodiversity, bhendi Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, India Introduction Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] has a special status in the field of nutrition among vegetables. In India, it is cultivated in an area of 530000 ha, with a production of 6.35 million -1 tons and productivity of 12 tons ha . Okra is cultivated in almost all states of India and the major producing states are Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Odisha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu [1]. Besides various reasons for low productivity, heavy damage to fruits inflicted by Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and Earias sp., which reduces vitality of the plant [2] [3] resulting in 54.04 per cent net yield loss . Ewete has reported 72 insect species that attack and damage okra. A total of 26 herbivores belonging to 24 genera, 20 families, and five orders and 23 predator insect species belonging to 21 genera, 11 families and seven orders were observed from the okra ecosystem [4]. Among the various methods of pest management, the use of agrochemicals forms the first line of defense against the insect pests. Emamectin benzoate is a semi-synthetic derivative of avermectins, produced as fermentation metabolites of soil actinomycetes, Streptomyces avermitilis Burg. This was discovered in 1984 and has both stomach and contact action, being effective against lepidopteran pests. They are potent agonists at the GABA receptors and interact with glutamate-gated chloride channels in insect nervous system. The strong chloride ion influx into the nerve cells results in disruption of nerve impulses, paralysis and finally death of larvae [5]. Correspondence A Kuzhandhaivel Pillai Arthropods are frequently used as ecological indicators because they represent more than 80 Assistant Professor, Don Bosco per cent of the global species richness. They fulfill essential roles in the ecosystem such as College of Agriculture, pollination, soil structure and function, decomposition and nutrient recycling, natural enemies Sagayathottam, Takkolam, of pest species, prey for highly valued vertebrate, etc. [6]. They have short generation times and Vellore. Tamil Nadu, India respond quickly to ecological changes. ~ 847 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies Further, various arthropod taxa have been used to detect an c. Pitfall traps anthropogenic impact on ecosystems including agriculture Pitfall traps were used to collect the ground dwelling and and climate change [7, 8]. Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) are so nocturnal arthropods. Pitfall traps were set out using a plastic diverse arthropods that they have attained the seventh rank in container (15 cm height and 10 cm width) buried into the soil diversity [9] and are predaceous arthropods which largely feed to a depth of 20 cm. Five pitfall traps were placed in each of on insects, larvae, and eggs. The indiscriminate use of five randomly chosen 4 x 4 m quadrates. The traps were set insecticides in agro-ecosystems resulted in ecological up between 6 am and 5 pm and specimens were collected the imbalance and appearance of more resistant pest strains in next morning. In order to stop the receptacle from filling with crops. Favorable results can be achieved by using spiders and water or leaf litter and to deter some larger predators like other arthropods (including insects) as biological control mice, the trap was covered with a flat stone supported by four agents in combination with insecticides and restricting the smaller stones. The water with two to three drops of teepol number of their applications to only specific times so as to was kept in the traps as trapping fluid and fluid was changed protect them [10, 11]. every week. The traps were placed at the rate of 25 per plot. The ecofriendly method of insect pest management offers an Observations were pooled and presented as weekly data. adequate level of pest control with fewer hazards and safe to non-target organisms. In the present study, the impact of d. Rubbish traps emamectin benzoate 5% SG on arthropod diversity in bhendi Rubbish traps were constructed using chicken wire mesh, ecosystem were evaluated. stuffed with leaf litter (45 cm length and 15 cm width). Five rubbish traps were Materials and Methods placed in each of five randomly chosen quadrates. The traps A field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of were placed in the field allowing a week for arthropods to emamectin benzoate 5% SG on arthropod population in take up residence. Every seven days, these traps were bhendi during March – 2014 to May – 2014 at farmer field, removed and brought to the laboratory to collect the Puthur, Coimbatore on the bhendi hybrid Venus. Two rounds arthropods found inside were collected. of a spray of emamectin benzoate 5% SG were given at fourteen days interval starting from 38 days after sowing 2. Collection and identification of arthropods (DAS). Spraying was done with hand operated pneumatic The collected arthropods were sorted out based on taxon. Soft knapsack sprayer using 500 liters of spray fluid per hectare. In bodied insects and spiders were preserved in 70 percent ethyl other hand an unsprayed field was maintained. alcohol in glass vials. Other arthropods were card mounted or pinned. All arthropod species were identified to the lowest 1. Sampling methods possible taxon. Insects were identified following Lefroy [12], To develop package of methods for quantitative sampling of Comstock [13], Richards and Davis [14], Ayyar [15], Poorani [16] arthropod communities, collections were made using four and also by comparing with the specimens in the different methods viz., active searching, net sweeping, pitfall Biosystematics Laboratory, Department of Agricultural trap and rubbish trap. For carrying out arthropod collection, Entomology, TNAU, Coimbatore. Spiders were identified the treated and untreated fields were divided into 100 with the help of Dr. M. Ganesh Kumar, Professor of quadrates (4 m x 4 m). Five such quadrates were chosen each Entomology, TNAU, Coimbatore and Dr. Manju Siliwal, at random and the entire site was covered during the sampling Independent Researcher, Wildlife Information Liaison period. Development Society, Dehradun. a. Active searching 3. Estimation of biodiversity indices Active searching was done in the early morning. Each I. Alpha diversity indices quadrate was selected at random were actively searched for Measures of diversity are indicators of the well-being of any arthropods. Each site was searched for a total of two hours. ecosystem. They also