Biodiversity of predatory coccinellids from different crop ecosystems of middle Gujarat

Abstract

Studies on the diversity of different predatory coccinellids in eight districts of middle Gujarat revealed that total twelve species were recorded of which Cheilomenes sexmaculata was found to be the dominant species followed by Coccinella transversalis, Coccinella septempunctata, Anegleis cardoni, Illeis cincta, Harmonia octomaculata, Propylea dissecta, Brumoides suturalis, Scymnus nubilus, Scymnus coccivora, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Psyllobora bisoctonotata. During 2022-23 and 2023-24, C. sexmaculata reached its highest abundance, especially in Ahmedabad, making up 67.15% of all adult coccinellid beetles. The total species population increases in the second year, likely due to favourable ecological conditions. Simpson's diversity index was highest on bajra (0.499), followed by brinjal (0.482), groundnut (0.481), cotton (0.480) and lucerne (0.463). In contrast, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index peaked in cotton (0.917), with cabbage (0.860) and groundnut (0.775).