Biodiversity and Annotated Checklist of Coleopteran-Fauna (Insecta) Associated with Agricultural Crops (Cereals, Vegetables) and Medicinal Plants of Jammu & Kashmir State (India)

Abstract

This paper deals with a total of 44 species of Coleopterans (Insecta), under 35 genera, belonging to 9 families. These insect species are associated with 7 spp. of cereal crops (of 2 families), 10 spp. of vegetable crops (5 families) and 35 spp. of medicinal plants (14 families), occurring in diverse habitats in vast localities of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions of J & K State. The Coleopteran species, infesting cereal crops, vegetable crops and medicinal plants accounts for 25%, 36.36% and 50 % respectively of the total Coleopteran- fauna associated with crops and medicinal plants studied. The highest number of species of Coleopterans i.e. 14, pertaining to the family Curculionidae, is associated with host crops (cereals, vegetables) and medicinal plant species. This is followed by family Chrysomelidae and Scarabaeidae, with 11 spp. and 9 spp. respectively. Rest of the Coleopteran families show number of species either 2 spp. or 1 sp., associated with the vegetable crops and medicinal plant species. The family Solanaceae, including vegetable crops and medicinal plants, is affected by highest number of Coleopteran species, 13 (29.54 %). This is followed by cereal crop families, Fabaceae and Poaceae, affected by 6 spp. (13.63 %) each of Coleopteran. An updated systematic checklist of Coleopteran-fauna associated with host cereal and vegetable crops, and medicinal plant species has been given. Apart from this, a Catalogue on Host species -Coleopteran species complex, has been added.