| Abstract |
Coccinellidae is one of the most diverse families in the order Coleoptera constituting 6000 species classified into 360 genera worldwide. Coccinellids have a diverse spectrum of hosts, from specialised predation on fragile-bodied insects to fungal feeders, pollen feeders, and stringent plant feeders. Tribe Coccinellini includes predators and a few mycophagous insects. Their predatory nature is well utilized in the biological control of different crop pests. An examination of the diversity of Coccinellini is critical for their optimal utilization in an integrated pest management approach. Being the biodiversity hotspot, Coccinellini fauna could be diverse in Kerala. However, comprehensive studies on the taxonomy of Coccinellini of Kerala are meager. Hence the present study contributes to the knowledge of predaceous coccinellids of Kerala. The research work “Taxonomy of the tribe Coccinellini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of Kerala” was carried out in the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad during 2020-2022 to elucidate the taxonomy of the tribe Coccinellini in different agricultural ecosystems of Kerala and to prepare an illustrated key for the identification of the species of Coccinellini. Purposive surveys were carried out representing the five agroecological zones of Kerala viz., Coastal plain, midland laterites, foothills, high hills and Palakkad plain covering 29 locations in eight districts viz., Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram. Palakkad, Thrissur, Kottayam and The adult beetles were collected from the host plant by hand picking and sweeping. The collected specimens were subjected to wet preservation by storing in 70 percent ethanol and dry preservation. The specimens were mounted onto the narrow end of a triangular white ivory card with fevicol® and were xxv pinned using ‘3’ size entomological pins. The pinned specimens were labelled with the following details viz., location, date of collection, name of the collector and its associated host plant. These specimens were dried at 50-60ºC in oven for a week and stored for further studies. Specimens available in the Department of Entomology at College of Agriculture, Padannakkad were also utilized for the study. The specimens were first grouped based on the pattern on pronotum and elytra. These were digested and dissected to study the taxonomic characters viz., antenna, labrum, mandible, maxilla, labium, prosternal carina, post coxal line, male genitalia and female genitalia. Descriptions, illustrations and key to species of Coccinellini of Kerala were prepared. Based on the literature collected and taxonomic keys, the identification of the species was done. Species distribution map was prepared with the help of QGIS software. The study explored ten species belonging to eight genera viz., Anegleis Iablokoff-Khnzorian, Cheilomenes Chevrolat, Coccinella Linnaeus, Coelophora, Mulsant, Harmonia Mulsant, Illeis Mulsant, Micraspis Chevrolat and Propylea Mulsant. The species recognized are Anegleis cardoni (Weise), Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, C. transversalis Fabricius, Coelophora bissellata Mulsant, C. saucia (Mulsant), Harmonia octomaculata (Fabricius), Illeis cincta (Fabricius), Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius), Micraspis discolor (Fabricius) and Propylea dissecta (Mulsant). This study illustrated the faunal composition of Coccinellini of Kerala, their host range and geographical distribution. A total of 22 host plants under families Arecaceae, Gramineae, Compositae, Solanaceae, Fabaceae, Musaceae, Pedaliaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Malvaceae, Moraceae and Convolvulaceae from which the specimens were collected. Aphids (Aphis craccivora) and whiteflies were the prey found associated during the study. The information provided can be utilized in efficient integrated pest management of different pests of crops by lady beetles.<br/>Coccinellidae is one of the most diverse families in the order Coleoptera constituting 6000 species classified into 360 genera worldwide. Coccinellids have a diverse spectrum of hosts, from specialised predation on fragile-bodied insects to fungal feeders, pollen feeders, and stringent plant feeders. Tribe Coccinellini includes predators and a few mycophagous insects. Their predatory nature is well utilized in the biological control of different crop pests. An examination of the diversity of Coccinellini is critical for their optimal utilization in an integrated pest management approach. Being the biodiversity hotspot, Coccinellini fauna could be diverse in Kerala. However, comprehensive studies on the taxonomy of Coccinellini of Kerala are meager. Hence the present study contributes to the knowledge of predaceous coccinellids of Kerala. <br/>The research work “Taxonomy of the tribe Coccinellini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of Kerala” was carried out in the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad during 2020-2022 to elucidate the taxonomy of the tribe Coccinellini in different agricultural ecosystems of Kerala and to prepare an illustrated key for the identification of the species of Coccinellini. <br/>Purposive surveys were carried out representing the five agroecological zones of Kerala viz., Coastal plain, midland laterites, foothills, high hills and Palakkad plain covering 29 locations in eight districts viz., Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram. <br/>The adult beetles were collected from the host plant by hand picking and sweeping. The collected specimens were subjected to wet preservation by storing in 70 percent ethanol and dry preservation. The specimens were mounted onto the narrow end of a triangular white ivory card with fevicol® and were pinned using ‘3’ size entomological pins. The pinned specimens were labelled with the following details viz., location, date of collection, name of the collector and its associated host plant. These specimens were dried at 50-60ºC in oven for a week and stored for further studies. Specimens available in the Department of Entomology at College of Agriculture, Padannakkad were also utilized for the study. <br/>The specimens were first grouped based on the pattern on pronotum and elytra. These were digested and dissected to study the taxonomic characters viz., antenna, labrum, mandible, maxilla, labium, prosternal carina, post coxal line, male genitalia and female genitalia. Descriptions, illustrations and key to species of Coccinellini of Kerala were prepared. Based on the literature collected and taxonomic keys, the identification of the species was done. Species distribution map was prepared with the help of QGIS software. <br/>The study explored ten species belonging to eight genera viz., Anegleis Iablokoff-Khnzorian, Cheilomenes Chevrolat, Coccinella Linnaeus, Coelophora, Mulsant, Harmonia Mulsant, Illeis Mulsant, Micraspis Chevrolat and Propylea Mulsant. The species recognized are Anegleis cardoni (Weise), Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, C. transversalis Fabricius, Coelophora bissellata Mulsant, C. saucia (Mulsant), Harmonia octomaculata (Fabricius), Illeis cincta (Fabricius), Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius), Micraspis discolor (Fabricius) and Propylea dissecta (Mulsant). <br/>This study illustrated the faunal composition of Coccinellini of Kerala, their host range and geographical distribution. A total of 22 host plants under families Arecaceae, Gramineae, Compositae, Solanaceae, Fabaceae, Musaceae, Pedaliaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Malvaceae, Moraceae and Convolvulaceae from which the specimens were collected. Aphids (Aphis craccivora) and whiteflies were the prey found associated during the study. The information provided can be utilized in efficient integrated pest management of different pests of crops by lady beetles.<br/> |
