Faunistic Study of Lady Bird Beetle on the basis of External Morphology of Urban and Rural Areas Of District Pishin, Balochistan

Abstract

Lady bird beetle (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) are voracious predator and entomophagous of many insects’ pests of economic importance. So, far only 75 species are reported in Pakistan. Keeping in view limited work in Pakistan, an extensive survey was conducted for the 1st time in Pishin to assess the fauna and distribution of coccinellids beetles in 05 study sites during March-August 2019. A total of 578 specimens of lady bird beetles were collected by hand picking and aerial netting. Identification of these beetles on external morphology showed that 09 species belonging to 02 sub-families were confirmed. The sub-family coccinellinae represent 07 species viz, Coccinella quinquepunctata, Coccinella septempunctata, Coccinella transversoguttata, Coccinella undecimpunctata, Coccinella hieroglyphica, Hippodamia variegata, Hippodamia tredecimpunctata and sub-family chilocorinae was represented by Chilocorus infernalis and Exochomus nigripennis. Among all the species C. septempunctata (n=375) was most abundant whereas the value of H, highest was calculated in Hurramzai (1.051) and the value of D, was highest in Pishin (0.511).