Coccinellid Funa Associated with Pulse Crop-ecosystems from Rayalseema Region of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Studies were conducted to identify the predatory coccinellid beetle fauna associated with pulse crop ecosystems from Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. The beetles were collected by sweep netting and hand picking. Male and female genitalia, colouration, characters of elytra, mandibles and antenna were studied for accurate identification of the species. Ten species of coccinellids viz., Cheliomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius), Coccinella transversalis Fabricius, Coccinella septumpunctata Linnaeus, Illeis cincta (Fabricius), Harmonia octomaculata (Fabricius), Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius), Micraspis discolor (Fabricius), Scymnus nubulis Mulsant Jauravia dorsalis (Weise) and Pseudospidimerus trinotatus Thunberg were reported from pulse crop ecosystems in Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh. The above species were identified and described and the species composition was worked out. Among the predatory coccinellid species studied, M. sexmaculata (41.00% of total coccinellids) ranked first in abundance followed by C. transversalis (28.55 % of total coccinellids), while H. octomaculata ranked last in abundance (0.49% of total coccinellids). An illustrated key along with diagnostic taxonomic characters were provided for easy identification of the coccinellids associated with pulse crop eco-systems from Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh.

A Comprehensive Review on Diversity of Predaceous Coccinellid Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…From horticultural and agricultural crop areas in Kashmir, Rasheed and Buhroo [46] gathered thirteen species of ladybird beetles [46]. In vegetable crops from Hyderabadi agricultural fields, Jesu Rajan et al [47] found nine species of coccinellids [47] In the groundnut crop ecosystems of the Rayalaseema Region of Andhra Pradesh, Vasista et al [53] recorded nine species of coccinellid beetles [55]. Six species of coccinellids were found in the kharif rice fields of Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, by Anitha et al [56].…”

Review on diversity of predaceous coccinellid beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…Thangjam et al, (2020) observed 19 species of coccinellid beetles belonging to 11 genera, predaceous on sucking pests of king chilli from Assam, India [64] . Vasista et al, (2020) reported 9 species of coccinellid beetles from groundnut crop ecosystems from Rayalaseema Region of Andhra Pradesh [66] . Anitha et al, (2020) recorded 6 species of coccinellids in kharif rice fields of Rajendranagar, Hyderabad [4] .…”