Inventory of Insects in Wheat Fields at Bajo, Wangdue, Bhutan

Abstract

This documentation is about the diverse insect species of different ecological functions associated with winter wheat at ARDC Bajo in 2022. The insects were surveyed by visual observation, sweep netting and pitfall traps. Among the 95 different species recorded, 54 were pest species and 41 were beneficial insects. There were 35 species that infest wheat; Sitobion miscanthi, Mythimna separata, Altica sp., Aulacophora indica, Monolepta signata, Camptopus sp., Leptocorisa acuta, Poophilus sp., Cofana unimaculata, Exitianus sp., Cletus punctiger, Graptostethus incertus, Eurydema pulchrum, Eysarcoris ventralis, Menida formosa, Nezara viridula, Nezara viridula f. viridula, Plautia sp., Nomophila noctuella, Scirpophaga incertulas, Helicoverpa armigera, Vanessa cardui, Acrida exaltata, Aiolopus thalassinus, Oxya velox, Patanga succincta, Trilophidia annulata, Oecanthus indicas, Atractomorpha acutipennis, Pyrgomorpha sp., Conocephalus fuscus, Conocephalus sp., Euconocephalus sp., Eupholidoptera sp., and Phaneroptera roseata. Also, 41 natural enemy species were recorded. The parasitoid species were Euthera fascipennis, Winthemia trinitatis, Agrypon sp., Delta campiniforme campaniforme, Gotra sp., Ischnojoppa luteator, Metopius sp., Pimpla sp..  and Pimpla pedalis. The predatory species were Cheilomenes sexmaculata, Coccinella septumpunctata, Coccinella transversalis, Coelophora bissellata, Cryptogonous quadriguttatus, Harmonia eucharis, Harmonia octamaculata, Harmonia sedecimnotata, Micraspis univittata, Oenopia dissecta, Oenopia sauzeti, Propylea luteopustalata, Scymnus (Scymnus) nubilus, Episyrphus balteatus, Episyrphus viridaureus, Eupeodes corollae, Microdon analis, Platycheirus scutatus, Sphaerophoria, Syrphus ribesii, Nabis capsiformis, Andrallus spinidens, Vilius melanopterus, Polistes sp., Chrysoperla sp., Hemerobius sp., Mantispa sp., Palpopleura sexmaculata, Pentala flavescens, and  Conocephalus maculatus. This study indicated that diverse insect species were associated with winter wheat. Of the pest species recorded, some are reported as major pests of wheat. Careful monitoring of the pest species and developing plans for their management, considering the beneficial species is suggested.