Taxonomic documentation of total insect fauna of medicinal plants collected through light trap in Jabalpur district

Abstract

The present research work on “Taxonomic Documentation of Total Insect Fauna of Medicinal Plants Collected Through Light Trap in Jabalpur District” was conducted at the Medicinal garden in collage of agriculture, Jabalpur (MP) during the period between last week of September 2018 to last week of March 2019. A total of 51 insect species belonging to 10 orders and 30 families were recorded throughout the season (Rabi 2018-19) based on number of species collected, largest collection was represented by order Lepidoptera 24 species (46%) followed by order Coleoptera 9 species (17%), Hemiptera 6 species (11%) and Orthoptera 3 species (6%) in descending order respectively, orders of minor significance were represented by Hymenoptera, Odonata and Neuroptera having 2 species each while Dermaptera, Diptera and Dictyoptera were represented by one species only.These species were grouped on the basis of their economic importance in two major categories viz. Harmful insects-as crop pests 33 species, beneficial insects-as predators and parasites 16 species. The present study also reviles that documented information on these species gives broader scope of using light trap as integrated pest management tool against these insect pests of medicinal, vegetables and other crops.