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Molecular Entomology 2012, Vol.3, No.4, 18
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Figure 1 Natural enemies and pollinators observed in brassicaceous crops of the region
Notes: Plate 1 (
C. septumpunctata
), Plate 2 (
C. septumpunctata
), Plate 3 (
C. septumpunctata
), Plate 4 (
C. transversalis
), Plate 5
(
Oenopia sexarata
), Plate 6 (
Oenopia Kirby
), Plate 7 (
Syrphus torvus
), Plate 8 (
Episyrphus balteatus
), Plate 9 (
Sphaerophoria
spp.),
Plate 10 (
Sphaerophoria scripta
), Plate 11 (Spider), Plate 12 (
Hyposoter ebeninus
), Plate 13 (
Cotesia glomerata
), Plate 14
(
Pteromalus puparum
), Plate 15 (
Diaeretiella repae
), Plate 16 (
Exorista larvarum
), Plate 17 (
Xylocopa
spp.), Plate 18 (
Bombus
orientalis
), Plate 19 (
Synhalonia
spp
.
), Plate 20 (
Apis cerana indica
), Plate 21 (
Apis florae
)
3 Discussions
The North-Eastern Himalayan region of India is
exceptionally rich in terms of flora and fauna.
Bio-diversity of arthropod fauna in particular crops is
varied from region to region. Therefore, the complete
knowledge on this aspect is crucial for formulating
proper management techniques and especially in case
of implementation of biological control programmes
where each tropic level have significant impact on
other organism. Bhat and Bhagat (2009) studied the
biodiversity of natural enemies in cole crops and
reported three potential hymenopteran parasitoids viz.,
H. ebeninus
,
C. glomerata
and
B. femorata
of cabbage
butterflies from Kashmir valley of India. Razmi et al.
(2011) reported ten species of primary parasitoids of
P.
brassicae
from different cole crops in Iran. Few other
natural enemies viz.,
Trichogramma evenescens
,
Compsilura concinnata
and
Phryxe vulgaris
were also
reported by Patriche et al. (2005) in brassica
ecosystem.
The data generated from present study would be
helpful in further understanding of the biodiversity of
arthropod fauna associated with brassicaceous crops in
other regions of the country and it is also useful in
understanding the role of different tropic levels in this
ecosystem; which has immense significance in
biological control programmes.
4 Materials and Methods
All the studies were conducted at experimental farm of the
Division of Crop Improvement (Entomology), ICARResearch
Complex for the NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (India)
during 2010~12. Different fields (pesticide free) of
brassicaceous crops (cabbage, cauliflower, knol-khol, brocolii,
radish, rapeseed, mustard, toria and sarso) were randomly
selected and utilized for this study. These experimental fields
were geographically situated at N 25°41′01.91″ E
91°54′46.24″. Observations on seasonal activity of
insect pests and their natural enemies were taken at
weekly interval in all these crops till their harvest.
Different life stages of the pests were collected
randomly from infested plants and reared in the
laboratory (20 ± 2ºC temperature, 75 ± 5% relative
humidity, 14:10 Light: Dark period) till their full
growth or emergence of parasitoids. Newly emerged
parasitoids were collected and preserved in the 75%
ethyl alcohol. Further, the parasitoids were identified
either with the help of reference collection of the
ICAR research complex for NEH Region, Umiam.
Some specimens were also identified with the help of
expert taxonomist of Division of Biosystematics,