Indian Journal of Entomology

Surveys were conducted during kharif and rabi season in the 2015–2016 in Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, Karaikal (10°55? N and 79°52’ E), Union Territory of Puducherry, to assess the species diversity and abundance of coccinellids and odonates in agricultural and horticultural ecosystems viz., rice, cotton, sugarcane, lablab, cassava, sweet potato, guava, mango, sapota, and curry leaf. Insect specimens were collected by sweeping and hand picking. Totally 19 species of Coleoptera and Odonata under four families (Coccinellidae, Libellulidae, Coenagrionidae, and Lestidae) were observed. Coccinella transversalis F. (25.56%) was the most abundant followed by Diplacodes triviaüs (Rambur) (22.22%) and Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.) (20%) in agricultural ecosystems. While, D. triviaüs (R) (21.80%) was the most abundant in horticultural ecosystems followed by Ceriagrion coromandalianum (Brauer) (20.30%) and Brachythemis contaminata (F.) (17.29%). Species richness was higher in the horticultural ecosystem and species evenness was almost the same in both the ecosystems. Simpson’s diversity value was greater in the horticultural ecosystem.