Perfor. of Summer forage legumes in Pothowar Pak. J. Agri. Sci., Vol. 48(2), 125-128; 2011 ISSN (Print) 0552-9034, ISSN (Online) 2076-0906 http://www.pakjas.com.pk

BIODIVERSITY OF STAPHYLINIDS IN CROPPED AREA OF THE PUNJAB (PAKISTAN)

Shabab Nasir1, Waseem Akram1’*, Farooq Ahmed1 and Shahbaz Talib Sahi2

1Department of Agriculture Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan; 2Department of Agriculture Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. *Corresponding author’s email: [email protected]

This study was carried out in order to know the biodiversity of staphylinid species due to their multi-dimensional behavior; i.e. predators, parasites, pollinators, decomposers and scavengers in the ecosystem. For this purpose, collection was made from cropped area (8 localities) of the Punjab, Pakistan with 5 different collecting methods; pitfall trapping, flight intercept trapping, light trapping, Burleson’s funnel trapping and sweep netting during 2008. Population was recorded for four days after every two months from each locality during the entire collection period. Eight hundred and seventy four (874) specimens were collected and identified up to species level (26 species) belonging to 15 genera and 5 subfamilies. Paederus fuscipes was the species with highest overall population (33.6%) while Tachyporus himalayicus was with lowest population (0.5%). High α-diversity index (20.804) and Shannon weaver index value (2.572) was found from Sargodha and Rahim Yar Khan and their lowest values (9.76) and (1.82) respectively were found from Rawalpindi during 2008. Keywords: Biodiversity, staphylinids, cropped area, Punjab

INTRODUCTION successfully due to many morphological and biological characteristics. Staphylinid play an important role Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from both above ground, as predators of aphids, fruit flies and all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic other soft bodied (Dennis and Wratten, 1991; ecosystems and ecological complexes of which they are part; Berglind et al., 1997; Collins et al., 2002; Devi et al., 2003; this includes diversity within species and of ecosystems. Shah et al., 2003) and below ground, they feed on algae, Diversity within species or genetic diversity refers to the fungi, collembolans and decaying organic matter (Good and variability in the functional units of heredity present in any Giller, 1991). Because of their flight, staphylinids have been material of plant, , microbial or other origin. Species found to disperse actively between natural and cultivated diversity is used to describe the variety of species (whether lands (Coombes and Sotherton, 1986) where they over wild or domesticated) within a geographical area. Ecosystem winter and reproduce (Sotherton, 1985). So these factors diversity refers to the enormous variety of plant, animal and influence species richness besides improving the numerical microorganism communities and the ecological processes status (Purtauf et al., 2005). Forest ecosystem plays an that make them functional (Anonymous, 2000). Species important role in maintaining diversity and abundance of richness in recorded from cropped areas vary leaf litter staphylinids (Apigian et al., 2006). Cultivated and according to the group of , cropping pattern, plant non-cultivated areas (forest area) play a significant role in density, use of pesticides and management practices as well biodiversity of staphylinids, while species richness and as a number of other biotic and abiotic factors (Forster, diversity is affected by non-cultivated area and cultivated 1991; Kremen et al., 1993). Linnaeus (Syst. Nat. 1758) was area (Hashmi et al., 1983; Eyre et al., 2007). Due to their the first to use the name Staphylinus “ rove beetles” that presence in the broad range habitat and in all natural, semi- belong to the 2nd largest family of beetles with over 47,000 natural and man-made habitats, these act as important bio- known species placed in more than 3300 genera (Marquez, indicators (Kremen et al., 1993). Although a lot of work has 2003), of which about 3,000 species are found in India been done and is being done on exploring Staphylinidae (Basak and Pal, 2006) and only 42 are found in Pakistan fauna in the world but no attention has been paid on these (Shafi, 1957). Their diet include just about everything except insects in Pakistan except few references, which are reported the living tissues of higher plants. This family can be from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Hlavac, 2006), Baluchistan and distinguished by the features that the members of this family Sindh (Cameron, 1930). There is no doubt that a large have short elytra than body segments. Rove beetles are very number of species have been reported from the Indian Sub- successful group of insects, found in all terrestrial habitats. continent including Ceylon and Burma, and the results have These beetles can compete with other organisms been printed in four volumes of “ Fauna of British India”, by

Biodiversity of staphylinids in cropped area of the Punjab

Cameron (1930-1939), but mostly species have been were identified and the number of species in each sub-family recorded from those areas that are outside the boundary of was determined by morphological criteria. Fauna of British Pakistan. Rehman and Ghani (1941) reported 133 species of India, Staphylinidae by Cameron (1930) was used as the rove beetles from pre-partition Punjab mentioned in the principal book to identify subfamilies, genera and species. Fauna of British India, 131 species have been collected from Some other keys, web sites and entomological articles were hilly areas of Simla and only 2 species have been recorded also used to identify the specimens. Seasonal abundance on from plains of Lahore and Shahpur. Shafi (1957) collected the basis of temperature and relative humidity measured 20 species from Lyallpur and added these to the previous with digital thermometer and hygrometer was also studied. collection of 22 species from this area. He also described 15 Specimens collected were also presented in terms of their species out of total 42 species. This shows that these workers seasonal abundance, distributional patterns and specific role. did not pay any serious attention at this part of land and no scientist studied the biodiversity of this . Keeping in Analysis of Data: For analysis of the data, percentage view the importance of this insect the present work is population of the each species and indexes were calculated: planned to study the biodiversity of staphylinids from the Shanon diversity, evenness, dominance and diversity index cultivated areas of the Punjab, Pakistan. (Silveira-Neto et al., 1976). The percentage population of each species was calculated through the quotient between MATERIALS AND METHODS the specimens collected of each species multiplied by 100, and the total number of all specimens (Silveira-Neto et al., The present study on biodiversity of staphylinids of the 1976). The biodiversity count was made by using Shannon- Punjab was carried out during 2008 from different areas of Weaver diversity index (Shannon and Weaver, 1949) and the Punjab. The project focused on collection of beetles evenness index (Pielou, 1966). The evenness index indicated (staphylinids) population from cultivated areas by sifting of equitability from 0 to 1 on the scale, with perfect evenness leaf litter, flight intersept trap (FIT), sweeping of grass, approaching 1. pitfall traps (Garcia et al., 2005; Derunkov, 2007) and light traps. Punjab presents an extraordinary diversity of RESULTS biological environments. Different cropping patterns and diverse soil types are found within its boundaries The Tables 1 and 2 provides a quick glimpse of the (Anonymous, 1994). Therefore, one locality from each biodiversity of Staphylinids in the Punjab, Pakistan. Table 1 cropping pattern was selected for this study. Staphylinid indicates that a total of 874 staphylinids were collected and fauna was collected from cultivated areas (Faisalabad, were placed in five sub-families and fifteen genera. All these Sheikhupur, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Multan, Dera genera contained 26 species. The genera and the number of Ghazi Khan and Rahim Yar Khan districts) in the Punjab. species in each genus with percent specimens were: Oxytelus One plot was chosen from each locality. These were (3 species; 12.7%); Platystethus (1 species; 1.4%); sampled during the whole year from January to December. Paederus (4 species; 52.3%); Stilicus (1 species; 3.0%); The traps were installed for four days in each locality during Astenus (1 species; 1.4%); Cryptobium (1 species; 2.0%); every visit within two months. The choice of time of year Philonthus (5 species; 10.9%); Leptacinus (1 species; 2.3%); was very crucial because of strong seasonality of the Staphylinus (1 species; 1.9 %); Platyprosopis (1 species; climate. Activity was generally found high at the end of the 1.6%); Aleochara (3 species; 4.6%); Myrmecopora (1 dry season, and was maximum during the month of July and species; 1.9%); Astilbus (1 species; 2.9%); Tachyporus (1 August (Noguera, 1990), during the good Monsoon rains. species; 0.5%); Tachinomorphus (1 species; 0.8%); Out of Rove activity in cropped areas was influenced by crop these twenty six species, Paederus fuscipes was the most type and moisture contents in the soil. Principally for this abundant species with highest number (33.6%) as shown in reason, the collection was made throughout the year. the Figure 1. Paederinae and Staphylinae sub-families were The collected population was brought to the Biodiversity the most abundant with highest number of species. Laboratory in Department of Agri. Entomology, University Tachyporus himalayicus was found with least number of of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Standard techniques for individuals. preserving and mounting were followed that included During 2008, the highest value of Shannon diversity index clearing in 10% KOH. Later the specimens were treated with (2.572) was found in RYK, the lowest value (1.82) was glacial acetic acid. Then these specimens were dehydrated in recorded for RWP and its values for other localities were in ascending grades of alcohol and finally mounted in Hoyer’s between these values. The greatest evenness (0.891) was medium (Henderson, 2001). Population was sorted through recorded from DGK, its value was low in Lahore (0.696) visual observation and then identified under microscope in while the value of dominance was highest (0.304) in this the laboratory with the help of available keys (Abdullah and locality (Table 2). Qadri, 1970) and material. The genera of all the specimens

125 Nasir, Akram, Ahmed & Sahi

Table 1. List of species in percentage (%) of Staphylinid beetles collected from cropped areas of the Punjab, Pakistan during 2008 Subfamilies Species 2008 (%) Oxytelinae Oxytelus ferrugineus 2.6 Oxytelus sordidus 5.0 Oxytelus varipennis 5.1 Platystethus cornutus 1.4 Paederinae Paederus fuscipes 33.6 Paederus tamulus 5.3 Paederus pubescens 8.2 Paederus basalis 5.2 Stilicus ceylanesis 3.0

Astenus sp. 1.4 Figure 1. Comparison of population (%) of different Cryptobium abdominalis 2.0 subfamilies of Staphylinid beetles during Staphylininae Philonthus delicatulus 4.6 2008 Philonthus cinotulus 2.4 Philonthus gemellus 1.5 DISCUSSION

Philonthus minutus 1.5 There is a serious need of information about the most Leptacinus parumpunctatus 2.3 essential aspects of biodiversity of staphylinid beetle in our Staphylinus sp. 1.9 cropped areas, including, specifically, the number of species Philonthus thermarum 0.9 present. Information on ground and dung beetles diversity in Platyprosops sp. 1.6 Punjab is generally available for many habitat types, but the Aleocharinae Aleochara clavicornis 1.7 information on the most diversified group of insects i.e. rove beetles is missing. Present study has been carried out for the Aleochara puberula 1.2 first time in the Punjab, Pakistan that has accounted for the Myrmecopora elegans 1.9 richness of staphylinids. Despite the fact extensive survey Astilbus mixtus 2.9 and field collections were made it is evident that we have Aleochara sp. 1.7 only sampled a portion of the full Staphylinidae diversity in Tachyporinae Tachyporus himalayicus 0.5 cropped and forest areas of the, Punjab. The main part of this study was to make a first estimate of the staphylinid Tachinomorphus ceylonicus 0.8 biodiversity of the Punjab, Pakistan. During 2008, the eight selected localities were sampled for 365 days, with five Table 2. Richness measures of Staphylinidae in the different collecting methods. From these collecting methods, cropped areas of the Punjab 5 sub-families, 15 genera, 26 species and about 874 Localities (H') (J') (D) α specimens were collected during 2008. All these localities LHR 1.838 0.696 0.304 13.794 were from cropped areas. Although the traps were installed SHP 2.396 0.846 0.154 16.798 for only four days during each visit after every two months FSD 2.388 0.784 0.216 20.799 in each locality, but the results indicate a low diversity as MTN 2.551 0.866 0.134 18.766 well as medium density of staphylinids. Few species were RYK 2.572 0.890 0.110 17.773 found in large numbers (Paederus fuscipes, Philonthus SGD 2.504 0.822 0.178 20.804 delicatulus, Paederus pubescens, Paederus basalis and RWP 1.82 0.790 0.210 9.760 Paederus tamulus) but only one species was with very less DGK 2.523 0.891 0.109 16.778 number (Tachyporus himalyicus) while others were in H’= Shanon diversity; J’= Evenness; D= Dominance; between these species. Although the relative proportion in α= Diversity index; LHR= Lahore; SHP= Sheikhupur; species of each sub-family is interesting, but should be FSD= Faisalabad; MTN= Multan; RYK= Rahim Yar Khan; interpreted with care, because this depends largely upon the SGD= Sargodha; RWP= Rawalpindi; efficiency of traps. DGK= Dera Ghazi Khan. Shannon Weaver index (H’) and Simpson’s index (D) are

126 Biodiversity of staphylinids in cropped area of the Punjab

the two diversity measures that are theoretically independent Imprint (pvt) Ltd., Rawalpindi Cantt., Pakistan. pp.1. of sample size. But these indices should be implemented Apigian, K., D.L. Dahlsten and S.L. Stephens. 2006. Fire with caution because these are relatively insensitive for and PresFurrogate treatment effects on leaf litter climatic influence analysis compared with α, that is badly arthropods in a western Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer affected by small sample, species dominance and presence forest. For. Ecol. Manag. 221:110-122. of rare species (Taylor et al., 1976; Dritschilo and Erwin, Basak, P.K. and T.K. Pal. 2006. Study of beetles 1982; Ludwig and Reynolds, 1988; Tonhasca, 1993). These (coleoptera) associated with stored products of Kolkata, indices are sensitive to the changes in the species abundance India III. Family: Staphylinidae. J. Biosci. 14:49-55. of the dominant species in a sample while the α-index Basedow, T. 1994. Phenology and egg production in mainly deals with the species that are in between the species Agonum dorsal and Pterostichus meanarius (Col., frequency distribution. Due to this reason, α is less Carabidae) in winter wheat fields of different growing influenced by one or two very abundant species (Taylor, intensity in northern Germany. In: Carabid Beetles: 1978; Kempton, 1979). Because α mostly depends upon Ecology and Evolution (Ed. K. Desender, M. Dufrene, species abundance in compliance to a log-series frequency M. Loreau, M.L. Luff and J.P. Maelfait), p.101-107. allocation. Shannon Weaver (H’) index and α index were Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. calculated from data in the present research work for Berglind, S.A., B. Ehnstram and H. Ljungberg. 1997. comparison with other works and Simpsons’ index was not Riparian beetles biodiversity and stream flow calculated. In the present study, H’ was generally found regulation- the example of Svartan and Mjallan streams, between 1.9-2.5, while Shah et al. (2003) found this value Central Sweden. Entomol. Tidskr. 118:137-154. less than 2.0. Lubke (1991) studied that H’ varied from 2.2 Cameron, M. 1930. The Fauna of British India including to 2.4 in wheat fields and Kromp and Steinberger (1992) Ceylon and Burma. Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Vol. I, reported a value of 4.1 from wheat in Australia. Dritschilo II, III, IV. Taylor and Francis, London. and Wanner (1980) reported that H’ varied from 1.3-2.3 in Collins, K.L., N.D. Boatman, A. Wilcox, J.M. Holland and maize fields and 1.3-1.7 from conventional fields. However, K. Chaney. 2002. Influence of beetle banks on cereal any idea from this discussion have to be treated with caution aphid predation in winter wheat. Agric. 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