BIODIVERSITY AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF INSECTS IN SUGARCANE CROP IN AMRITSAR REGION OF NORTH INDIA.

During the observation period (April 2019-March 2020), 36 species of insects were recorded belonging to 29 families from all the selected study sites. The maximum species were recorded in order Lepidoptera followed by Hemiptera. A minimum of one species was recorded from each order, Dictyoptera, Isoptera, Neuroptera, and Diptera, from three selected sugarcane agriculture field sites. The maximum number of individuals was collected from Site I, followed by Site II, whereas the lowest number of individuals was recorded at Site III. The observation showed that seasonal abundance had two peaks, first during the summer months of June and second during the spring season of March. The study of insect diversity represents species richness as highest at Site I (based on species number and Shannon index). In contrast, species dominance was maximum at Site II (Simpson index and Berger Parker) due to over dominance of one species. The Evenness index showed maximum evenness of species at Site I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]