SURVEY AND POPULATION STUDIES ON INSECTS BY USING PITFALL AND STICKY TRAPS AT IBEX RESERVE NATIONAL PARK, HUTET BENI TAMIM, SAUDI ARABIA

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Plant Protection Dept. College of Food & Agric. Sciences, King Saud Univ. P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia, Zoology department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

A survey together with studies on the population densities and relative abundance of insects and species richenes at Ibex Reserve National Park, Western Hutet Beni Tamim, 180 Km. S. Riyadh in two areas (Protected area and non protected area) during one whole year from May, 2007 to the end of April, 2008, using pitfall and sticky traps.
The survey revealed the presence of fifty three species belonging to thirty six genera, of fifteen families under six orders (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Mantodea and Orthoptera). A total number of 1033 insects was obtained throughout the year. The largest numbers were observed during June, December and April. Also the largest number of species was belonging to the order Coleoptera (28 species), followed by the hymenopterans (15 species). Other orders were represented by varying number of species.
The coleopterans were found to be the most abundant and dominant, constituting the majority of the catch (882 individuals, representing 39.9% of the total catch), followed by hymenopterans (121 individuals, constituting 11.7% of the total catch). Insects of the other orders were less abundant and were represented by small numbers of individuals.
Thirty nine species belonging to twenty six genera of eleven families and four orders which were obtained throughout the year were collected from the protected area, while forty species belonging to twenty six genera of ten families and five orders were collected from the non-protected area.

Main Subjects