Vol. 8, Issue 8 (2019)

Author(s):
K Kuotsu and R Lalrinfeli

Abstract:
Cereals are the staple food for most of the world's population. Among the cereals, rice and maize are two major food crops of India in general and North East region in particular. Several insect pests are associated with the cereal crop ecosystem which is a major threat to agriculture causing substantial economic losses. However limited information is available on insect pests of cereals ecosystem in mid-hills of Meghalaya. Therefore, this study was conducted to study the biodiversity of insect pest of major cereal crops viz., rice and maize in mid hills of Meghalaya. During 2015-16, a total of 23 insect pests were collected, identified and documented which were belonging to four insect orders viz., Hemiptera (12), Lepidoptera (6) Coleoptera (4), and Orthoptera (1). 6 species of insect viz., Chilopartellus, Helicoverpa armigera, Leptocorisa vericornis, Nilaparvata lugens, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis and Parapoynx stagnalis were found to be major pest of rice and maize and 17 species of insects viz., Rhopalosiphum maidis, R. padi, Parnara ganga, Leucopholis lepidophora, Nezara viridula, Xylotrupes siamensis, Melanitis leda, Oxya hyla hyla, Monolepta quadriguttata, Nephotettix nigropictus, N. virescens, Cofana lineata, Menida versicolor, Cletus rubidiventris, Anomala grandis, Bothrogonia tibetana and Diostrombus sp. nr. carnosa were found to be minor pests. All the collected species were identified based on taxonomic keys and from taxonomists. The comprehensive information generated on the biodiversity of insect pests associated with major cereal crops would be helpful in developing pest management strategies. It could also be used as a diagnostic guide for the identification of the pest species.