Status and Diversity of Beetles in Different Agro Ecosystems in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka Annapurneshwari.H .And Deepika B.S Department of Zoology, I.D.S.G
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SSRG International Journal of Agriculture & Environmental Science ( SSRG – IJAES ) – Volume 5 Issue 4 – Jul to Aug 2018 Status and Diversity of Beetles in Different Agro Ecosystems in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka Annapurneshwari.H .and Deepika B.S Department of Zoology, I.D.S.G. Government College, Chikkamagaluru-577102, Karnataka Abstract world‘s only remaining population of threatened Western ghat is one of the centre of high species of plants and animals. biodiversity and renowned for its unique species The order Coleoptera includes beetles, is the most including insects. The diversity of beetles is very wide diverse order of class insecta .This is the largest order ranging, they are found in almost all types of habitat. of insecta (Borer et al., 1984) with more than 350,000 The present study focuses on the diversity of beetles known species and new species. It constituting almost in different agro ecosystem in Chikkamagaluru. The 25% of all known life form and about 40% of all present survey was conducted for the period of five described insect species are beetles. India contributes months from July to November 2015...Efforts were to a diversified beetle fauna comprises about 5% of made to study the diversity of beetles in and around all known species of the world. Coleoptera are found chikkamagaluru, in three different habitats such as in nearly all natural habitats. They have successfully coffee, Pepper and coconut plantations. During the exploited both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. They present survey, total 18species of beetles belonging to are also found on vegetation, in caves, in soil, in 7 families Viz., Carabidae, Cerambycidae, decaying animal, on plant materials, in timber and in Chrysomelidae, Coccinellidae, Curculionidae, rotten wood and many are predators. Beetles are Meloidae, and Scarabaeidae were recorded. The known for their bright metallic coloration though they highest diversity was represented in the family may also be dull black or brownish (David and Scarbaeidae with 8 species, followed by Ananthakrishna 2006).The beetles vary considerably Chrysomelidae with 3 beetle species and family in habits wide distribution and countless adaptation. Carabidae and Meloidae with 2 species and family They are generally herbivores, scavengers or Cerambycidae, Coccinellidae and Curculionidae, predators, the greatest numbers are plant feeders representing one species each respectively. such as nectar feeders, foliage eaters, and Seed eaters Myllocerus viridians are causing considerable or bark eaters. Some beetle species are predators defoliation of herbs, shrubs and trees. Holotrichia when in the larval form and plant feeders when adult. serrata causes a serious damage to the sugarcane Beetles play important roles in ecosystem. and ground nut crops. Mylabris pustulata the young Tenebrionidae act as primary decomposers ones are beneficial to crops by suppressing other (Henschell et al.,) plant feeder which may serves as a biological control Many beetles are regarded as major pests of of other pest. agricultural plants and stored products. Scavengers and wood boring beetles are useful as decomposers Key words: Beetles, Diversity, Chikkamagaluru, and recyclers of organic nutrients. Predatory species Western ghat, Coleoptera. such as lady beetles are important biological control agents of aphids and scale insects. Scientific literature I. INTRODUCTION on beetles of Pakistan already reported by (Rafi et al.,2010)on tiger beetle,(Sultan et al.,2008)on tortoise Biodiversity is the term that is given to describe the beetle,(Darilmaz and Ahmed ,2009)on Coleoptera variety of life on earth. Western Ghat is very rich in :Dystiscidae. terms of biodiversity due to its unique bio geographic location, diversified climatic condition and enormous II. MATERIALS AND METHODS ecodiversity. Western ghat is known as hot spot of diversity in India because it shelter some of the A. Study area Chikkamagaluru is situated in the foot hills average rain fall of 1925 mm. The region with a of the Western Ghats of Karnataka between 12o 54’ wide forest types ranging from tropical wet 42” and 13o 53’ 53” North latitude and between 75o evergreen forest to grassland. 04’ 46” and 76o 21’ 50” east longitude. It receives ISSN: 2394 – 2568 http://www.internationaljournalssrg.org Page 37 SSRG International Journal of Agriculture & Environmental Science ( SSRG – IJAES ) – Volume 5 Issue 4 – Jul to Aug 2018 Map showing the study areas of chikkamagaluru. The present study was carried out in three Many beetles that live in habitat such as leaf, litter, different agro ecosystems like coffee, pepper and dung& decaying food materials were handpicked. coconut plantations. This study was carried out for Sweep nets were used for collecting plant inhabiting five months (July to November 2015). The study was beetles. Lures like cow dung or rotten banana peels conducted in Kabbinasetuve and Lakya in were used for collecting dung beetles. After cikkamagaluru, Karnataka, India.Kabbinasetuve is a collecting, beetles were killed by using alcohol, hot small village in chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka water or kerosene. Beetles once killed can be State. It is located 15 km towards west of preserved in dry method. Beetles mounted on pins chikkamagaluru district. Lakya village is located in and preserved in air tight beetle cabinet. The the chikkamagaluru district. It is located 12 km east preserved beetles were identified by Prof.Belavadi, from the chikkamagaluru. department of Entomology, GKVK Bangalore. III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION Study areas provides diverse habitat to various reported in this study and these are commonly beetle species. During the present survey total 18 known as leaf beetles. Many of these are serious beetles were located during the study period from pests of cultivated plants. Some are beneficial due to coffee, pepper and coconut plantation of their use in bio control of invasive weeds. Meloidae chikkamagaluru. In this study 18 are known as blister beetles with 2 beetle species speciesbelongingto7familiesViz.Carabidae, which was the third dominant (11%) family. Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Coccinellidae, Consumption of blister beetles by cattle or horses can Curculionidae, Meloidae, and Scarabaeidae were cause death or serious illness. And family recorded. The check list of coleoptera collected in the Carabidae(11%) with 2 beetle species, Carabidae study area is given in Table 1. Scarabaeidae are beetles are commonly known as ground beetles, they known as dung beetles, with 8 beetle species which are predatory and act as biological control agents was the most dominant (44%) of all the families, adults and larvae are considered beneficial and will probably due to the adults of these beetles are more eat all most any type of insect. Coccinellidae, noticeable due to their large size and bright colour, curculionidae and cerambycidae (6%) include 1 dung beetles feed on dung by burying and consuming beetle species. family wise distribution of beetles is dung, they improve nutrient recycling and soil given in fig 1. And coccinellidae includes small structure. they also dispose the seeds present in beetles, they are commonly known as lady beetles animal dung. chrysomelidae with 3 beetle species they are useful insects because they prey on aphids was the second dominant ( 17%) of coleopteran and scale insects which are agricultural pests. ISSN: 2394 – 2568 http://www.internationaljournalssrg.org Page 38 SSRG International Journal of Agriculture & Environmental Science ( SSRG – IJAES ) – Volume 5 Issue 4 – Jul to Aug 2018 TABLE 1: CHECK LIST OF BEETLES IN THE STUDY AREA. SL.NO Family Genera Species 1 Carabidae Pheropsophus bimaculatus Chlaenius quadricolor 2 Cerambycidae. Stibara nigriocornis 3 Chrysomelidae Chrysolina americana Zygogramma bicolorata Sagra femorata 4 Scarabaeidae. Cheilomenes sexmaculata Holotrichia serrata oniticellus. cinctus Onthophagus taurus Heterorrhina elegans Onitis alexis Oryctes rhinoceros Catharsius molossus 5 Curculionidae Myllocerus viridanus 6 Meloidae Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Mylabris pustulata 7 Coccinellidae Coccinella transversalis Fig 1: Family wise distribution of beetles in the study area. Genera 11% Carabidae 6% Cerambycidae 44% Chrysomelidae 17% Coccinellidae Curculionidae Meloidae 6% scarabaeidae 6% 11.00% ISSN: 2394 – 2568 http://www.internationaljournalssrg.org Page 39 SSRG International Journal of Agriculture & Environmental Science ( SSRG – IJAES ) – Volume 5 Issue 4 – Jul to Aug 2018 Beetles collected from different study area Zygogramma bicolorata Pheropsophus bimaculatus Oryctes rhinoceros Myllocerus viridanus Coccinella transnersalis Onitis alexis Stibara nigricornis Chrysolina americana Sagra femorata Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Mylabris pustulata Chlaenius quadricolor ISSN: 2394 – 2568 http://www.internationaljournalssrg.org Page 40 SSRG International Journal of Agriculture & Environmental Science ( SSRG – IJAES ) – Volume 5 Issue 4 – Jul to Aug 2018 III. CONCLUSION During this study 18 species were collected [6] Clark M.S, Gage S. H, Speme. J.R. Habitats and belonging to 7 families, among these Scarabaidae management associated with common ground beeltes (coleopteran, carabidae) in a Michigan agricultural land scape family species were abundant with 8 beetle species, Environment.1997; 26, 591-527. Chrysomelidae with 3 beetle species, Meloidae with 2 [7] Dagnogo mamadoes and doumbia mamadou comparing species and coccinellidae ,curculionidaeand beetle abundance and diversity values along a land use cerambycidae