Estimation of the entomological diversity of a pear orchard (Pyrus communis L.) in North-Western Algeria

摘要

The entomofauna is the object of important attention of protectionist ecologists in order to evaluate their population, a faunistic estimation of the entomofauna population of the two pear orchards located in north-western Algeria was carried out in the spring period following the cultural works and maintenance monitoring of the orchards. The 797 individuals sampled have highlighted 91 species, 46 families, and 9 orders. 68 species were noted for the orchard with east-west exposure and 55 species for the orchard with north-south exposure. The Shannon index H’ values are almost similar in both orchards, H’= 4.37 bits for the north-south orchard and H’= 4.38 bits for the east-west orchard, presenting a species composition that differs from each orchard. The beneficial functional groups are well maintained in the study station, reporting a high number of taxa Pear orchards N/S: 24, Pear orchards E/W: 35 compared to predators and indifferent species. In our study, we have used the pitfall trapping that is one of the most commonly used methods to survey surface-active arthropods, but it showed certain limitation in capturing flying insects. Through this modest work, we reported for the first time in Algeria a parasitoid Exallonyx microserus Hymenoptera, Proctotrupidae sampled in the east-west orchard. No significant impact of the cultural and maintenance works effects was observed on the entomic population of the pear orchards studied.