Ecology of lady bird’s species (Coccinellids) in farmland and bushes within the university of Calabar area, Calabar, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Ladybirds (Coccinellidae) are natural predators of insect pests, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pest control in agricultural systems. My study aimed at assessing the abundance and diversity of ladybirds across four sites: a cassava farm (Site A), a grassy field (site B), bushes (site C), and shrub stands (site D) over a six-month period (July-December 2017). Sampling was done randomly within quadrants (10x10 meters) of each site for 1-2 hours, with individuals collected via netting and hand-picking. A total of 864 ladybird individuals, comprising six species across three sub-families (Chilocorinae, Coccinellinae, and Epilachninae), were recorded. Chilocorus stigma (38%) was the most abundant species, while Harmonia octomaculata (2%) was the least. Site A had the highest abundance (571 individuals), and site B had the lowest (2 individuals). Predatory ladybirds outnumbered herbivorous ones. The population was significantly higher (p