Studies on Seasonal Activity of Insect Pests Associated with High Altitude Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Ecosystems of Kashmir Himalaya by Utilizing Fluorescent Light Trap

This work incorporates detailed field observations on seasonal activity of insects damaging valuable agricultural crops, horticultural and forestry plantation and other economically important plants, occurring at high altitude regions of Kashmir Himalaya by utilizing light-trap (12 volt fluorescent light source) operated through solar power battery, conducted during different seasons of 2002-2003. The light- trapping experiment has yielded 2383 insect pest individuals, belonging to five orders (Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera), incorporating 54 species, belonging to 37 genera under 16 families. The population abundance and seasonal flight activity of various species captured has been studied. The predominant insect species recorded was Adoretus sp. (scarabaeid ) followed by Mythimina sp. (noctuid ). The abundant species belonging to different families and orders, in order of decreasing dominance were Euproctis spp. (lymantrid), Brahmina spp. (scarabaeid), Lacon spp.(elaterid), Epilachna sp. (coccinellid), Anomala spp.(scarabaeid), Pycna repanda (cicadid), Agrotis spp. (noctuid). The seasonal flight activity of the least abundant species trapped with 1 to 50 representative individuals has also been studied.