Journal of Bioresource Management Volume 7 Issue 4 Article 4 Evaluation of The Diversity of Durum Wheat Coleoptera (Triticum Durum Desf.) in the Region of Sigus Oum El Bouaghi (Eastern Algeria) Amokrane Assia University of Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria, [email protected] khammar hichem University of Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria, [email protected] Hadjab ramzi University of Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria, [email protected] saheb menouar University of Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/jbm Part of the Biodiversity Commons, Evolution Commons, and the Population Biology Commons Recommended Citation Assia, A., hichem, k., ramzi, H., & menouar, s. (2020). Evaluation of The Diversity of Durum Wheat Coleoptera (Triticum Durum Desf.) in the Region of Sigus Oum El Bouaghi (Eastern Algeria), Journal of Bioresource Management, 7 (4). DOI: https://doi.org/10.35691/JBM.0202.0149 ISSN: 2309-3854 online (Received: Sep 14, 2020; Accepted: Nov 18, 2020; Published: Dec 31, 2020) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Bioresource Management by an authorized editor of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Evaluation of The Diversity of Durum Wheat Coleoptera (Triticum Durum Desf.) in the Region of Sigus Oum El Bouaghi (Eastern Algeria) © Copyrights of all the papers published in Journal of Bioresource Management are with its publisher, Center for Bioresource Research (CBR) Islamabad, Pakistan. This permits anyone to copy, redistribute, remix, transmit and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes provided the original work and source is appropriately cited. Journal of Bioresource Management does not grant you any other rights in relation to this website or the material on this website. In other words, all other rights are reserved. For the avoidance of doubt, you must not adapt, edit, change, transform, publish, republish, distribute, redistribute, broadcast, rebroadcast or show or play in public this website or the material on this website (in any form or media) without appropriately and conspicuously citing the original work and source or Journal of Bioresource Management’s prior written permission. This article is available in Journal of Bioresource Management: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/jbm/vol7/ iss4/4 Amokrane et al. (2020). Diversity of Durum Wheat Coleoptera (Triticum durum Desf.) in the region of Sigus. J Biores Manag., 7(4): 33-54 EVALUATION OF THE DIVERSITY OF DURUM WHEAT COLEOPTERA (TRITICUM DURUM DESF.) IN THE REGION OF SIGUS OUM EL BOUAGHI (EASTERN ALGERIA) AMOKRANE ASSIA1, KHAMMAR HICHEM1, HADJAB RAMZI1, SAHEB MENOUAR1* 1 Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environment, University of “Larbi Ben M'hidi”, Oum el Bouaghi, Algeria *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT The Oum El Bouaghi region in Eastern Algeria, long considered as a cereal-growing area is nowadays a durum wheat production region par excellence. Although the damage caused by Coleoptera is very significant, studies on the knowledge of their diversity are few and remain limited for some entomological groups. Our work is the first step to evaluate the diversity of Coleoptera and the long-term impact of taking biological management measures against harmful fauna in favour of more environment friendly agriculture. To assess the beetle community, different sampling methods were combined (Barber trap, coloured traps, mowing net and sight hunting). Evaluation of the results of a single campaign showed that Coleoptera infested with durum wheat vary in abundance and diversity. We identified more than 100 species of Coleoptera belonging to 22 different families for a total number of 5698 individuals belonging mainly to the Carabidae, Curculionidae, Chrysomelidae, Scarabidae and Staphylinidae families. Although the majority of Coleoptera collected are pests of durum wheat crops (47.57%) the case of Tropinota hirta, Notaris sp or Oulema melanopus in particular, there was an interesting presence of predators (28.15%) the case of Carabidae or Staphylinidae in particular even with low relative abundance. The temporal evolution of the Coleoptera showed that the species diversity indicated a peak of abundance at the full tillering stage following an accentuated vegetative development of the host plant, and the presence of weeds. The data collected in this way constitute a basis for a preliminary knowledge of the durum wheat Coleoptera and can thus be used to design pest control strategies. Keywords: Triticum durum, Coleoptera, pests, predators, Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria. INTRODUCTION This order, the richest in species on earth, forms the average element of The eastern Algerian highland region biodiversity and can intervene at all levels of is mostly dominated by cereal crops. The the food web. They can be primary pedoclimatic conditions prevalent in this consumers (phytophagous), secondary type of environment make it very important consumers or tertiary consumers (predators to have a diversified fauna, in particular the or parasites) (Odegaard, 2000; Marniche et Coleoptera, which forms a category of al., 2014; Labruyere, 2017). According to arthropod animals recognized since ancient Elizabeth (2015) Coleoptera constitutes more times and is a genus of insects. This than 300,000 described species; they live in constitutes 25 to 30 per cent of all animal all environments and are characterized by the populations (Powell, 2009; Moore, 2013). ease of harvesting and conservation (Perrier, 1977; Barney and Pass, 1986). The sources of food for Coleoptera are as varied as their 33 Amokrane et al. (2020). Diversity of Durum Wheat Coleoptera (Triticum durum Desf.) in the region of Sigus. J Biores Manag., 7(4): 33-54 lifestyles, ranging from a purely carnivorous In Morocco, numerous fragmentary diet to a phytophagous, mycetophagous or studies on this order have been carried out by saprophagous diet (Zarazaga, 2015). Chavanon et al., (1995); Chavanom and Cereals are by far the most important Mahboub (1998) in the mouth of the agricultural land use because they serve as Moulouya River; Slim et al., (2016) in staple food for a large proportion of the reserve of Sidi Boughaba Mehdia. In Tunisia world’s population. In Algeria, as in North (Touaylia et al., 2009) an inventory of Africa, these crops represent the main Helophoridae and Hydraenidae was made. In speculation and drain several processing Algeria, the study conducted by Boukli activities, in semolina, bakery and food Hacene et al., (2012) of the salt marshes at industry. In Algeria, during the last decade, the mouth of the Tafna (Tlemcen) was cited. wheat represented an average of 67.1% of all The richness and particular cereal production. They also constitute the characteristics of the Beetles as auxiliary basis of food and occupy a privileged place fauna is far from negligible and concerns in the food habits of populations in both rural several families (Carabidae, Silphidae, and urban areas (Derbal et al., 2015). Cleridae, Anthribidae, Lampyridae...) and Although the damage caused by the several hundred species (Kulkarni et al., beetle fauna in Algeria is very significant in 2015) . They are mainly generalist predators cereal fields, studies on the knowledge of the but some groups or families are more or less bio-ecology of this procession remain specialised, such as the Coccinellidae which, insufficient and poorly known and are depending on the genus and species, are generally quite localized and focused on consumers of aphids, mealybugs or mites. limited taxa. This is particularly the case for Some species are parasites of diptera the family Aphididae, which is the most Anthomyiidae (cabbage maggot), this is the studied group (Boughida, 2010; Dif, 2010; case of certain staphylins of the genus Laabdaoui and Guenaoui, 2015; Aggoun et Aleochara. Beetles represent an important al., 2016; Lebbal, 2017). The bibliography biomass especially in the tropics. They are a dealing with the Coleoptera fauna in part of food chains and their impact as different regions of the globe is abundant, decomposers and consumers (Gullan and but in the Maghreb (North Africa), in-depth Cranston, 2010). The distinctive studies on this fauna are rather rare. Note characteristics of this fauna have aroused the that studies carried out recently in Algeria interest of many researchers all over the concern in particular the entomological fauna world and also our interest, given that little associated with forest species such as cork work has been done on this fauna in Algeria, oak, holm oak or cedar (Benia, 2011; Bairi particularly on this group of insects and on and Mennous, 2017). Adding some recent durum wheat crops (Ouchtati et al ., studies carried out on the Carabidae fauna 2019).The aim of this work was to analyse (Ouchtati et al., 2012; Saouache and the taxonomic composition of the beetle Doumandji, 2014; Saouache, 2017). On the population harvested at the family and other hand, the studies concern the stands of species level (Talmaciu, 2018). This study the entomofauna of cereals as a whole are also aims to determine the bio-ecological few and fragmentary. However, we can cite status of the different species inventoried in particular the study carried out by Kellil (abundance, constancy and trophic status) (2019) in the region of the high plains of determined through their diets and their Algeria. temporal distribution in relation to the phenology of the host plant. 34 Amokrane et al. (2020). Diversity of Durum Wheat Coleoptera (Triticum durum Desf.) in the region of Sigus. J Biores Manag., 7(4): 33-54 MATERIAL AND METHODS and sheep (in converted stables) and other slaughter animals for slaughter. The farm has Study Area an area of 1398 Ha intended mainly for the cultivation of durum wheat, soft wheat, The durum wheat field where our barley, oats and certain vegetable crops such experiment took place is located in the Ghoul as chickpeas and lentils, adding 10 Ha Moussa pilot farm located in the commune intended for olive growing (A.S.D, 2018).