Diversity and abundance of insects associated with two accessions of golden melon (Cucumis melo L.)
NJE Vol. 40(2): 109-120, 2024
DOI.10.36108/NJE/4202/04.0290
Babatunde, S.F.1* and Gambari, L.I2
1Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
2Department of Crop Protection, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Correspondence email: samfemmy2002@gmail.com ORCID: 0000-0002-0146-9156
Abstract
This study aims to give fundamental details regarding the diversity and abundance of insects associated with two accessions of Golden melon (Cucumis melo L). There were 1,058 (1,058) different specimens gathered. These insects belong to 7 different Orders (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Diptera, Dictyoptera, Hemiptera, and Hymenoptera) and 22 different (Acrididae, Alydidae, Apidae, Braconidae, Calliphoridae, Chrysomelidae, Coccinellidae, Erotylidae, Formicdae, Gryllidae, Mantidae, Muscidae, Pentatomidae, Pieridae, Reduviidae, Sacrophidae, Scarabaiedae, Scutelleridae, Tachinidae, Tenebrionidae, Tettigonidae and Vespidae). Majority of the insect predators belong to the Formicidae family. Golden melon beds were sampled for insects every 10 weeks from the second week after sowing. Every week, sampling was carried out between 7:00 and 9:00 in the morning using a sweep net, a pitfall, and handpicking. As a result, this knowledge will aid in understanding the various insect pests that affect golden melon (Cucumis melo) systems
Keywords: Golden melon; Insects pests; species diversity; abundance distribution; accessions