insect diversity of sri lankamalleswara reserve forest in the … · plate 14: praying mantis in...

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2014; 2 (6): 198-212 ISSN 2320-7078 JEZS 2014; 2 (6): 198-212 © 2014 JEZS Received: 18-10-2014 Accepted: 29-11-2014 P. Harinath Research Scholar, Department of Zoology - School of life Sciences - Yogi Vemana University Kadapa – 516 003 - Andhra Pradesh, India. K. Suryanarayana Research Scholar, Department of Zoology - School of life Sciences - Yogi Vemana University Kadapa – 516 003 - Andhra Pradesh, India. S. P. Venkata Ramana Assistant Professor & Corresponding author, Department of Zoology - School of life Sciences - Yogi Vemana University Kadapa – 516 003 - Andhra Pradesh, India. Correspondence: S. P. Venkata Ramana Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology - School of life Sciences - Yogi Vemana University Kadapa – 516 003 - Andhra Pradesh, India.

Insect diversity of Sri Lankamalleswara Reserve forest in the Eastern Ghats of Southern Andhra

Pradesh P. Harinath, K. Suryanarayana and S. P. Venkata Ramana Abstract Insect diversity at Sri Lankamalleswara reserve forest (14°45' - 14°72' N & 79°07' - 78°80' E), Kadapa in the Eastern Ghats of Southern Andhra Pradesh was studied during the period from June 2013 to September 2014. Nearly 75 species of butterflies, 12 moth species from Lepidoptera; 4 ant species, one wasp, 6 bee species from Hymenoptera; 7 cricket species of Orthoptera; 5 bug species from Hemiptera; 3 mosquito species, 4 housefly species, 2 species of flies from Diptera; 8 species of dragon flies, 2 species of damselflies from Odonata; 3 beetles from Coleopteran; one species each from Thysanura; and Mantodea and 2 species from Phasmatodea; one species each from class Arachnida and Diploda were identified. The seasonality, relative abundance and diversity of some insect groups was also recorded. Majority of the insects are very much required for pollination. Some insects produce useful substances such as honey, wax, lacquer and silk.

Keywords: Insects, Sri Lankamalleswara Reserve forest, Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh. 1. Introduction Insects are important because of their diversity, ecological role, and influence on agriculture, human health, and natural resources. They have been used in landmark studies in biomechanics, climate change, developmental biology, ecology, evolution, genetics, paleolimnology, and physiology [1]. Insects are major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of animals on the earth, with over a million described species – more than half of all known living organisms with estimates of un-described species as high as 30 million, thus potentially representing over 90% of the different life forms on the planet [2]. Insects are extremely important components of the bio-indicators of the world [3, 4]. Insects may be found in nearly all environments on the planet, although only a small number of species occurs in the oceans. Even in Antarctica we will find some insects alive and active during warmer months [5]. Approximately vast number of insect species including 2000 praying mantis, 5000 dragon flies, 20,000 grasshoppers, 82,000 true bugs, 1,20,000 flies, 1,10,000 bees, wasps and ants, 1,70,000 butterflies and moths and 3,60,000 beetles are available all over the world [5]. Many insects are beneficial to the environment and to humans. A serious environmental problem today is the decline of population of insects. Some insects produce useful substances such as honey, wax, lacquer and silk. Adult insects as crickets and insect larvae of various kinds are also commonly used for fishing bait. Beetles are scavengers and help in recycling the biological materials into forms [6]. Insect diversity conservation has received an enormous upsurge in recent years. Now we are presenting insect diversity collected in and around Sri Lankamalleswara reserve forest in the Eastern Ghats of Southern Andhra Pradesh. 2. Materials and Methodology Periodical survey of insects in Sri Lankamalleswara reserve forest in the Eastern Ghats of Southern Andhra Pradesh was studied during the period from June 2013 to September 2014. The insects encountered were identified (using the standard keys and standard references [7]) while they are in flight or in resting in the study area (Fig: Map showing study area). In case of any doubt, such insects are captured by means soft insect catching nets and then by studying characters and they are identified by consulting standard publications and consulting with Zoological Survey of India. Majority of the insects are day active and some are nocturnal.

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

Hence walks are made during entire day to record the abundance.

Fig: Map showing study area

2.1 Sample Collection and Curation Only dead insects are collected and pinned or mounted and stored dry, although the adults of some orders and all soft bodied immature insects were preserved in vials of 70 – 80% ethanol or mounted onto microscope slides. Pupal cases, cocoons, waxy coverings and exuviate were kept dry and they were pinned mounted on cards and delicate ones are stored in gelatin capsules or in preserving fluid. 2.2 Pinning, Staging, Pointing, Carding, Spreading and Setting Collected dead Specimens should be mounted by using entomological macro pins. Direct pinning and micro pinning methods [7] were implemented for dry pinning. 2.3 Spreading and Setting For display of the wings, legs and antennae of many insects were very much required for identification, for this purpose spreading technology was applied.

3. Results and Discussion Insect diversity was measured by scoring the species throughout the day in all the recognized study areas. Such a monitoring was conducted twice in a month. Sri Lanka Malleswara reserve forest consists of scrub jungle with wild vegetation and also finds some medicinal plants, herbs and shrubs. In the study area we have identified nearly 75 species of butterflies, 12 moth species from Lepidoptera; 4 ant species, one wasp, 6 bee species from Hymenoptera; 7 cricket species of Orthoptera; 5 bug species from Hemiptera; 3 mosquito species, 4 housefly species, 2 species of flies from Diptera; 8 species of dragon flies, 2 species of damselflies from Odonata; 3 beetles from Coleopteran; one species each from Thysanura; and Mantodea and 2 species from Phasmatodea; one species each from class Arachnida and Diploda were identified. List of these species were given in the Table.1, 2 & Plates – 1 to 14

Table 1: Survey of the insect fauna during June 2013 – Sep. 2014 at Sri Lankamalleswara reserve forest (Fig: 12)

Class Order Species

Insecta

Hymenoptera :

Bees: Apis cerana indica, Apis melifera, Apis dorsata, Apis florae, Amegilla,

Ceratina, Trigona pseudapis

Ants : Camponotus compressus, Formica rufa, Lasius

niger, Monomorium indicum

Wasps: Vespa orientalis

Orthoptera: Cricket: Hierodula coarctata

Hemiptera:

Bugs: Palomena prasina, Nezara viridula, Coreus marginatus, Nepa cinerea,

Velia caprai.

Diptera: Mosquitoes: Anopheles sp, Culex sp, Aedes sp.

House flies: Chrysomya megacephala, Eristalinus, Sarcophaga, Rhyncomya, Musa

domestica.

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Flies: Scathophaga stercoraria, Tipula paludosa

Odonata:

Dragon flies: Ophiogomphus susbehcha, Pachydiplax longipennis, Libellula eponina.

Pulchella Ascalaphidae (Owl fly), Chauliodes pectinicornis, Palpares sp., Myrmeleontidae.

Damselflies: Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Argia apicalis.

Lepidoptera: Butterflies: Rhopalocera:

1 Nymphalidae : 27

2 Lycaenidae : 14

3 Papilionidae: 12

4 Pieridae : 13

5 Hesperiidae : 9

Moths:

Chiasmia cymatodes, Cephonodes hylas, Creatonotos transiens, Chiasmia eleonora, Scopulla pulchella, Aloa lactinea, Hyperythra lutea,

Spodoptera litura Male, Mangina astrea, Scopula subpunctaria, Spilarctia mona, Acontia crocata, Mimas tiliae, Sphinx ligustri

Coleopteran: Beetles: Coccinella septempunctata, Mylabris pustulata, Gastrophysa viridula

Thysanura: Lepisma saccharina

Mantodea: Mantis religiosa, Gongylus gongylodes, Hellinsia monodactyla, Mantis

religiosa

Phasmatodea: Stick insects, Leaf insects

Arachnida Scorpionidea: Palamneus

Diplopoda Polydesmoidea: Polydesmes

Table 2: Relative abundance and seasonality of Butterflies at Sri Lankamalleswara reserve forest during June 2013 – Sep.2014 (Fig: 11)

S.NO Scientific Name Common name Relative Abundance

Family: Nymphalidae

1. Danaus chrysippus chrysippus Plain tiger * * * * *

2. D. limniace leopardus Blue tiger * * * *

3 D. plexippus Common tiger * *****

4 Eyuploea core core Common crow * * * *

5 Elymnias hypermnestra Common palm fly ***

6 Erites falcipennis Common Cyclops ***

7 Melanitis leda ismene Common evening * * * *

8 Mycalesis visala subdita Tamil brush brown **

9 Ariadne merione merione Common castor * * *

10 Euthalia garuda The baron *

11 E. nais The baronet * * *

12 Hypolimnas bolina Great egg fly * * * *

13 H. misippus Danaid egg fly * * * *

14 Junonia almanac Peacock pansy * * * *

15 J. hierta Yellow pansy * * *

16 J. lemonias Lemon pansy * * * * *

17 J. orithyia Blue pansy * * *

18 J. iphita Chocolate pansy * * *

19 Neptis hylas Common sailer * * *

20 Phalanta phalantha Common leopard * * * *

21 Byblia ilithyia The Joker * * * *

22 Vanessa indica The Paller * * * *

23 Cynthia erota The Devil ***

24 Atella alcippe The Camel **

25 Acraea terpsicore Tawny coster ** *

26 Charaxes solon Black Rajah *

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27 Melanitis phedima Dark evening brown * * * *

Family: Lycaenidae

28 Apharitis vulcanus Common silver line ***

29 Castalius rosimon rosimon Common pierrot * * * *

30 Castalius caleta Common Comb * * * *

31 Tarucus nara The Hill Rock * * * *

32 Euchrysops cnejus Gram blue * * * *

33 Everes lacturnus syntala Indian cupid * *

34 Jamides celeno aelianus Common cerulean * * * *

35 Spindasis vulcanus vulcanus Indian red flash * **

36 Talicada nyseus The silver line * *

37 Lycaenesthes emolus Red pierrot **

38 Curetis thetis The wind mill ***

39 Rathinda omor Indian Red glass * * * *

40 Deudorix perse Oak blue *

41 Spindasis ictis Common cool * * * *

Family: Papilionidae

42 Graphium agamemnon Tailed jay * * * *

43 G. doson Common jay ***

44 Pathysa nomius nomius Spot sword tail * *

45 Pachliopta aristolochiae Common rose * * * *

46 P. hector Cromson rose * * * *

47 Papilio polymnestor Blue Mormon * *

48 P. polytes polytes Common mormon * * *

49 P. memnon Common merun *

50 P. liomedon The black tail * * * *

51 P. crino Common banded peacock * **

52 Princeps demoleus Lime butterfly ***

53 Graphium sarpedon Common blue bottle **

Family: Pieridae

54 Anaphaeis aurota The pioneer * * * *

55 Appias pandione Spot puffin * *

56 A. albina darada Common albatross * *

57 Catopsilia crocale crocale Common emigrant * * *

58 C. c. Pomona Lemon emigrant * * * *

59 C. pyranthe Molted emigrant * * * * *

60 Colotis danae danae Crimson tip * * * *

61 C. eucharis eucharis Plain orange tip * * * * *

62 C. fausta Large salmon arab * * * *

63 C. amata The Rose tip * * * *

64 Cepora nerissa nerissa Common gull **** *

65 Delias eucharis Common jezebel * * * *

66 Eurema hecabe simulate Common grass yellow **** *

Family: Hesperiidae

67 Borbo cinnara Rice swift * * *

68 Pelopidas mathias mathias Small branded swift * * * *

69 Hasora alexis Common banded Awl * ****

70 H. nexis The Red dot *

71 Spialia galba Indian skipper * * * *

72 Sarangesa dasahara Common small flat * * *

73 Caprona agama Spotted angle * * *

74 Tara ctrocera maevius Comm0n grass dart * * *

75 Gegenes Nostradamus Dingy Swift * *

*very rare **rare ***less common ****common *****very common (Based on the abundance data recorded by tentative field observations twice in a week yearlong in the study area)

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Diversity of butterfly species in Sri Lankamalleswara reserve forest

Plate 1:

Plate 2:

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Plate 3:

Plate 4:

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Plate 5:

Plate 6:

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Plate 7:

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Plate 8: Moth species of Sri Lanka Malleswara Reserve forest

Plate 9: Jewel bugs

Plate 10: Flies

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Plate 11: Scorpions

Plate 12: Beetles

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Plate 13: Damselflies

Plate 14: Praying mantis In the entire study we have recorded the seasonality, relative abundance and diversity of some insects like bees, ants, bugs, dragonflies and butterflies. For bees 35% Apis mellifera, 20%

Apis cerana indica, Apis florae 10%, 15% Apis dorsata, 10% Trigona pseudapis were recorded year long and 5% each Amegilla and Ceratina species recorded during March to July.

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(Fig 1 & 2). We could observe the maximum number of different species increased gradually from October to April and decreased from May to September. In the month of April we were able to registered maximum number of the species of

A. cerana, Trigona species, A. florae, whereas September registered least number of species.

Population Index of Bees

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%

A.cerana

A.melife

ra

A.dorsatta

A.florae

Amegilla

Ceratin

a

Trigon

a

Name of the Species

% o

f P

op

ula

tio

n

Bees

Seasonaltiy of Honey Bees

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

jan

feb

mar ap

r

may ju

n jul

aug

sep

oct

nov

dec

Months

No

. o

f S

pec

ies

A.cerana

A.dorsatta

Trigona

A.florae

Amegilla

Ceratina

A.melifera

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Regarding ants, most of the species were observed during March to June. During these months maximum number of species have been reported among them Formica rufa are 40%, Lasius niger 40% available throughout the year with high frequency during January to July and Camponatus compressus 15%, Monomorium indicum 5% available during

January to March and October to November. (Fig 3 & 4). Formica rufa and Lasius niger registered the common species that can been seen in the study area where as the Monomorium indicum was the least.

Poplation Index of Ants

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Campo

natu

s

Form

ica

Lasiu

s

Mon

omor

ium

Name of the species

% o

f th

e p

op

ula

tio

n

Ants

Seasonality of the Ants

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Months

No

. o

f sp

ecie

s

Componatus

Formica

Lasius

Monomorium

Fig. 3 Fig. 4

The abundance of dragon flies species differently with the species during different months. We have observed the increase in the population of dragon flies after rainy seasons. Species like 34% Ophiogophus susbehcha 35%, Libellula

forensis 20%, Libullela eponina 20%, Aeshna cyanea 20% were dominant in the study area, Sympetrum striolatum 2% and Clithemis eponina with 3% were recorded. (Fig 5 & 6)

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Populaion Index of Dragon Flies

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Ophiogophus

L.fore

nsis

L.eponina

Aeshna

Sympetru

m

Clithem is

Name of the Dragon Fly

% o

f th

e P

op

ula

tio

n

Dragon Flies

Seasonality of Dragon Flies

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Jan

Fe

bM

ar

Ap

rM

ay

Jun

Jul

Au

gS

ep

Oct

No

vD

ec

Months

No

. of

Sp

ec

ies Ophiogophus

L.forensis

L.eponina

Aeshna

Sympetrum

Clithenis

Fig. 5 Fig. 6

During our searches bugs including Palomena prasina 50%, Nazera viridula and Nepa cinerea 20% each Coreus marginalius and Velia caprai 5% each were recorded. These

bugs inhabit different habitats with more abundant in the aquatic media after the rainy season. The shielding insect is the common bug in the study sites. (Fig 7 & 8).

Population Index of Bugs

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Palomena Nazera Nepa Coreus Velia

Name of the Species

% o

f th

e P

op

ula

tio

n

Bugs

Seasonality of Bugs

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May Ju

n

Jul

Aug

Sep Oct

Nov

Dec

Months

No

. O

f S

pec

ies Palomena

Nazera

Nepa

Coreus

Velia

Fig. 7 Fig. 8

Butterflies are the other dominant insects in the study area; earlier 150 species are available all over the Eastern Ghats [8, 9].

In which nearly 75 species were observed and recorded their abundance and seasonality in our study area (Based on the abundance data recorded by tentative field observations twice in a week yearlong in the study area) (Table 2 & Fig 9). Among them Nymphalidae, and Lycaenidae are reported at greater number (Fig 11) whereas Papilionidae, Pieridae Hesperiidae, and Satyridae reported the least number. In

which 14 species were reported as rare when compared with the others. The butterflies were categorized as very rare (VR) 6.60% (5 species); Rare (R) 14.7% (11 species), Less common (LC) 29.3% (22 species), common (C) 38.7% (29 species), Very common (VC) 10.7% (8species) (Fig 10).The distribution of butterflies depends upon not only the availability of food plants but also on the climate and topographic features of the study area.

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Fig 9: Butterfly species family wise recorded in the study area

Fig 10: Butterfly species abundance status were recorded in the study area

Fig 11: Dominant butterfly species at Sri Lankamalleswara Reserve forest

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(Species abundance)

Fig 12: Insect fauna collected during June 2013 – Sep. 2014 at Sri Lankamalleswara Reserve forest

4. Acknowledgement The corresponding author Dr. S.P. Venkata Ramana Asst. Professor, Dept. of Zoology, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa greatly acknowledge to UGC, New Delhi for financial support through a major research project and also sincere thanks to the Forest Department, Andhra Pradesh for providing permission and support in all the forest study areas for better insect survey. 5. References 1. Foottit RG, Adler PH. Insect Biodiversity: Science and

Society by Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2009. 2. Elzinga RJ. Fundamentals on Entomology, Edn 6, Pearson

/ Prentice Hall, New Jersey USA. 2004. 3. Chakaravarthy AK, Rajagopal D, Jagannatha R. Insects as

bio-indicators of conservation in the tropics. Zoo’s Print Journal 1997; 12:21-25.

4. Jana S, Pahari PR, Dutta TK, Bhattacharya T. Diversity and community structure of aquatic insects in a pond in Midnapore town, West Bengal, India. Journal of Environmental Biology 2009; 30:283-287.

5. Gullan PJ, Cranston PS. The insects: An Outline of Entomology, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, 2005.

6. Gottsberger G. Flowers and beetles in the South American tropics Bot. Acta 1990; 103:360-365.

7. Upton MS. Methods of collecting, preserving, and studying Insects and Allied forms, Edn 4, Australian Entomological Society, Brisbane, Qld, 1991, 406-413.

8. Gunathilagaraj K, Perumal TNA, Jayaram K, Kumar MG. Some South Indian butterflies. Nilgiri Wild life and Environment Association Nilgiris, 1998.

9. Ramana SPV. Biodiversity and conservation of Butterflies in the Eastern Ghats. The Ecoscan 2010, 4:59-67.

insect diversity of sri lankamalleswara reserve forest in the … · plate 14: praying mantis in...

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