Biodiversity, Abundance and Prey Status of Odonates  from Paddy Ecosystems of Kolhapur District, India

Dr. T. V. Sathe; Dr. Kiran Shinde

Volume : IV, Issue : IX, September - 2014

Biodiversity, Abundance and Prey Status of Odonates from Paddy Ecosystems of Kolhapur District, India

Dr. T. V. Sathe, Dr. Kiran Shinde

Abstract :

In Kolhapur region paddy is widely cultivated. However, expected yield of the crop has not achieved so far because of damage caused by insect pests to the crops. Damsel flies and dragon flies (Order Odonata) are predatory insects and good biocontrol agents of paddy insect pests and mosquitoes. Therefore, biodiversity, abundance and prey status of damsel and dragon flies have been studied in paddy ecosystem of Kolhapur. A total of 36 species of odonates have been reported from paddy ecosystem belonging to the genera, Crocothemes, Pantala, Anax, Neurothemis, Ichneura etc. feeding on paddy moths, jassids, whiteflies and mosquitoes