Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

SEED INSECT PESTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPORTANT FOREST TREE SPECIES IN ARID AND SEMI-ARID REGIONS OF GUJARAT, INDIA

Meeta Sharma and Noopur Sharma

Abstract

Insects cause a considerable amount of damage to the seeds of important forest tree species. The climate of the arid and semi-arid regions favors the growth of these insect pests. This results in a heavy loss to the forestry sector. Therefore extensive studies were carried out in different regions of Gujarat for two years (2011-13). In the present study, 37 species of insects associated with seeds were recorded. Bruchidae was observed to be the dominant family represented by 12 species followed by Pyralidae and Tortricidae having 3 species; Anthribidae, Tineidae and Muscidae with 2 species and least with 1 species each by Coreidae, Cicadellidae, Olethreutidae, Cosmopterigidae, Tarymidae, Lycaenidae, Otitidae, Tenebrionidae, Crambidae, Thripidae, Phlaeothripidae and Anobiidae.