Diversity and abundance of predatory coccinellid beetles (Coleoptera: coccinellidae) of king chilli (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) in Assam, India

Abstract

A total of 205 individual coccinellids were observed during the investigation out of which 19 species belonging to 11 genera were found to predate on sucking pests of king chilli. Among the coccinellids, Coccinella transversalis was observed in highest number (40 nos.) followed by Menochilus sexmaculatus (38 nos.) and Micraspis discolor (34 nos.) and Platynaspis sp. recorded lowest (1 nos.). The highest relative abundance was recorded in Coccinella transversalis (19.51%) followed by Menochilus sexmaculatus (18.54%), Micraspis discolor (16.59%), Brumoides suturalis (7.32%), Coelophora bissellata (5.85%) and Coccinella septempunctata (4.88%). However, Platynaspis sp. recorded the lowest (0.49%) followed by Jauravia quadrinotata and Propylea sp. with the relative abundance of 0.98 percent each. One hymenopteran parasitoid Oomyzus sp. was also observed during the study and this may be the first time reporting this parasitoid from Assam parasitizing coccinellids.