STUDY ON INSECT DIVERSITY IN TEMPERATE FORESTS OF SHIMLA HILLS, WESTERN HIMALAYAS, INDIA

摘要

A study on insect diversity was carried out in temperate forests of Shimla hills of Western Himalaya. Fifty one species of insects were identified belonging to four orders namely Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. Order Lepidoptera was the richest in diversity among the identified orders, represented by 24 species under 7 families and 19 genera of which 14 were uncommon, 6 were rare, 3 common and 1 species was abundant. Order Orthoptera contained 12 species under 6 families and 12 genera, among these, 2 species were abundant, 4 were uncommon, 5 were common and 1 species was rare. Order Hymenoptera was represented by 8 species under 4 families and 7 genera, of which 3 each were common and uncommon, respectively and 1 each was rare and abundant in the area. Order Coleoptera was represented by 7 species under 5 families and 7 genera, of which 3 were rare; 2 abundant and 1 each was common and uncommon, respectively in the area. Maximum number of species was found in summer season followed by monsoon and winter seasons. Of the 51, one species i.e. Libythea myrrha (Godart) is listed under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.