I J R B A T, Special Issue Feb 2016: 95-96 ISSN 2347 – 517X

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCHES IN BIOSCIENCES, AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY © VISHWASHANTI MULTIPURPOSE SOCIETY (Global Peace Multipurpose Society) R. No. MH-659/13(N) www.vmsindia.org

HYMENOPTERAN FAUNA OF VISVESVARAYA NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS, NAGPUR

S. C. Masram1, P. C. Sonarghare 2, U. R. Sonparote 3, B. G. Shende, M. Shinkhede 2 and K. P. Khaparde 3 1PGTD of Zoology, RTM Nagpur Unive rsity, Nagpur-440033, India. 2Sindhu Mahavidyalaya, Panchpaoli, Nagpur-440017, India. 3S.M.M. Colle ge of Scie nce , Nagpur-440009, India. 3M.B.Patel College, Sakoli-441802, India.

Abstract: Biodiversity in itself offers a spectrum of services, as we ll as goods. It also e nhances many other ecosystem services. Besides plants and higher , also form an important component of biodive rsity in the tropical and subtropical forests. Insects are the most diverse group of animals comprising most of the living species. are not only diverse in terms of structure, size and numbe rs of species, but also in their habits and life histories. Among orde rs, the order Hymenoptera comprises commonest, diverse, best known insects. Visvesvarya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) Campus spread over 89 hectors and is located in Western Nagpur. Green area of VNIT campus support rich inse ct fauna. Present work was carried out from January, 2014 to July 2014. Line transect sampling method was used to study the hymenopteran diversity and identification was confirme d by using key available in literature. In VNIT campus, orde r Hymenoptera is represented by 3 families, 11 gene ra and 13 species. Keywords : Hymenoptera, dive rsity, VNIT.

Introduction a diverse array of relationships with their hosts The use of the term biodive rsity has become (Schmid-Hempel, 1998). popular and widespread in the last 20 years. It is used for all aspects of biological diversity Materials and Methods including taxon richness, genetic variation and Study area ecosystem complexity (Magurran, 2004). Present study was conducted from Maintaining biodiversity has been linked with January 2014 to July 2014 in Visvesvaraya both ecosystem functioning and stability and National Institute of Technology (VNIT) located the processes involved in sustaining ecosystem in western Nagpur ne ar Ambazari Lake, about 8 functions (Tilman et al., 2001; Tilman et al., km from Nagpur Railway station and 8 km away 2006). The importance of biological diversity for from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Airport, Nagpur. ecosystem functioning and se rvices is wide ly The campus of VNIT spread on 220 acres (89 recognized, not only as the basis for processes he ctors) and has green cover rich in natural in nature, but also as a prerequisite for the flora and fauna. improvement and sustainability of human Sampling Method wellbeing. Thus, preserving biodiversity isone of Line transects were used to observed the major standpoints of contemporary the hymenopteran. Transects were chosen in environmentalists (Mudri-Stojnić et al., 2012). random with semi-quantitative sampling Pollination by insects and other animals is methods to record the insects. Insects were significant in most terrestrial habitats. On the searched for maximum two hours (0900-1100 other hand, 35% of crop production worldwide hrs) in each compartme nt, extending the search (Kreme n et al ., 2007; Steffan-Dewenter and with different compartme nt sizes. The sampling Westphal, 2008) and 70% of major global crop methods include visual searching for the insects species rely on animal pollination (Steffan- as far distinct vision is possible. Occasionally Dewenter and Westphal, 2008). the caught insects we re placed separately on an important hymenopteran are vials with 70% ethyl alcohol. The collection date, distributed all over the world, and their colonies compartme nt name and habitat were recorded provide both a stable food resource and on each vial. numerous niches for thousands of other organisms, termed myrmecophiles, that exhibit

95 I J R B A T, Special Issue Feb 2016: 95-96 ISSN 2347 – 517X

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