A rapid exploration of insect pests and their ecology along Chitwan Annapurna landscape, Nepal

This study was conducted in agriculture areas of the Kaligandaki and Marsyangdi river basins of Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, and the aim were to explore the diversity of insect pests in agriculture farming. The field sampling was carried in the summer of 2018 and we surveyed between 1000 to 3000 m asl. We identified 19 species of insect pests belonging to twelve families. The maximum types of insects were observed from familyAphididae (61%) whereas the least number and diversity was identified from Meloidae (0.35%). Our study indicated that the highest abundance of insect pests was observed in Cowpea Bean (Vigna unguiculata) and the least on the Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus). The frequency of insect pests showed that positive correlation with temperature and altitude however, negatively related to the relative humidity of the sampling area. The frequency and diversity of insect pests showed statistical significance (P < 0.5) affected by the families of different crops of sampling areas. There was higher species diversity (H= 2.07) in Kaligandaki River Basin comparing to Marshyangi Basin sites.