%0 Journal Article
%T Diversity and Distribution of Ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) in the Cropland of Faisalabad District
%A Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
%A Saima Kausar and Shahnaz Akhtar Rana
%J International Journal of Advanced Research
%D 2013
%I 
%X The present study was conducted in the Faisalabad district (30¡ã 31.5 N and 73¡ã 74 E), Pakistan to assess diversity and distribution of ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on five economically important crops (wheat, sugarcane, fodder, maize and vegetables) and their associated weeds. A total of 2204 specimens of coccinellids were collected belonging to four sub-families viz., Coccinellinae (n = 2076), Chilocorinae (n = 122), Epilachninae (n = 03) and Scymninae (n = 03) as well as twelve species. Fodder 57.19% (n = 1129) and wheat 37.34% (n = 737) were comprised more abundant coccinellids while sugarcane 3.04% (n = 60), vegetable 1.38% (n = 27) and maize 1.06% (n = n = 21) contribution was negligible. Fodder was also recorded more diverse (H¡ä = 1.541) and significantly different from all crops (p = 0.000). C. septempunctata 60.33% (n = 1191) and C. sexmaculata 19.50% (n = 385) were recorded more abundant species as well as widely distributed on all the crops. Among weeds C. dactylon 19.13% (n = 44) and F. indica 21.30% (n = 49) constituted more abundant and more diverse (H¡ä = 1.343, H¡ä = 1.115) coccinellids. It is concluded that agricultural crops and their associated weeds comprising of a variety coccinellids species, which are better control agents of insect pests.
%K Agro-ecosystem
%K Insects
%K Coleoptera
%K IPM
%K Biological control.
%U http://www.journalijar.com/uploads/2013-03-21_132732_574.pdf