Estimation of the entomological diversity of a pear orchard (Pyrus communis L.) in North-Western Algeria
September 27, 2021
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Article Title: | Estimation of the entomological diversity of a pear orchard (Pyrus communis L.) in North-Western Algeria |
Authors: | Guerrouche N., Hamadi K., Marniche F., Aziri H. |
Affiliation: | 1 Department of Ecology and Environment, University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria. 2 National Institute of Higher Education for Youth Executives Tixeraine, Algiers, Algeria. 3 Higher National Veterinary School El Harrach, Algiers, Algeria. 4 Expertise and Consulting Company in fruit production techniques, Sarl Djezagri, Algiers, Algeria. |
Abstract: | 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. |
Keywords: | northwest Algeria, diversity, entomofauna, auxiliary, Exallonyx microserus |
*Correspondence: | Nabila Guerrouche, Department of Ecology and Environment, University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria.guerrouchenabila@gmail.com |