Abstract
A field survey was conducted to explore the diversity of predaceous ladybird beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) by sampling adults and larvae from five geographical habitats of Uttarakhand, North India. As a result, eighteen predaceous ladybird beetle species were identified belonging to 15 genera and 3 subfamilies: Chilocorinae, Coccinellinae, and Scymninae. These species were: Platynaspis saundersi, Adalia hexaspilota, Alloneda dodecaspilota, Calvia albida, Menochilus sexmaculatus, Coccinella septempunctata, Coccinella transversalis, Harmonia eucharis, Harmonia sedecimnotata; Hippodamia variegata, Illeis cincta, Illeis confusa, Micraspis discolor, Oenopia sauzeti, Propylea dissecta; Propylea luteopustulata; Palaeoneda auriculata and Scymnus posticalis. Of these, six species ladybird beetles are the first time reported from Uttarakhand. Their distinctive characters, distribution, host plant-prey range, active period, and ecological importance have been described. A few of these species may be potentially utilized as biological agents to control many phytophagous insect pests of agriculture and horticulture crops. A disparity was observed in the ladybird-abundance, as both the number of individuals of ladybirds and their frequency in the population differed significantly. The dominance of a few ladybird beetles, particularly C. septempunctata, M. sexmaculatus, C. transversalis and H. variegata was confirmed by the low value of Simpson’s Dominance Index (0.1903) further indicating the disparity in the populations of different ladybird species in a community
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
