Diversity of light attracted phytophagous scarabs in cardamom agro-ecosystem

Abstract

A study was conducted in cardamom agro-ecosystem during 2015 and 2016 in Mudigere to ascertain the diversity of light attracted scarabaeoids. Scarabaeoids being one of the speciose groups represent almost an estimated 10 per cent of the beetle fauna. The scarabs exhibit varied ecosystem. Pestiferous or phytophagous scarabs cause damage to cardamom, shade trees and black pepper grown as intercrop in cardamom by inflicting damage to the roots in their larval stage and leaves in their adult stage resulting in considerable loss of the crop. The results revealed that 1318 individuals and 81 species were recovered through light traps. Among these 627 individuals and 45 species were phytophagous and rest were non-phytophagous scarabs. The most abundant species was Maladera sp 2 which was followed by Anomala varicolor (Gyllenhal), Sophrops karschi, Anomalachela bicolor (Brenske), Maladera sp 3 and rest were represented by few individuals.