Insects, Araneae and their Host-Plant Relationship in and around Falta Industrial Zone, West Bengal

Abstract

The objective of this work is to examine the effect of industrialization on the insects and arachmids of several members belonging to six arthropod orders, viz., Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Araneae and their host plant relationship in the Falta export processing zone (FEPZ) and in non-industrial area. Fifteen study sites were selected for the research work, of which ten are within the industrial area covering 10 km of aerial distance of Falta industrial zone and fi ve sites of non-industrial area are 20 km to 32 km away of the industrial complex. The present study records the occurrence of 139 species of arthropods covering 5 insect orders (viz., Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Orthoptera) and one arachnid order Araneae, collected from 15 study sites of Falta Industrial Zone and adjoining non-industrial areas. These include 121 genera, 45 families and 5 sub-families of the above mentioned orders. This arthropod community were collected from 74 species of plants belonging to 30 families. These plants are commonly distributed in all 15 study sites. Four host plant families (Asclepiadaceae, Poaceae, Euphobiaceae and Solanaceae) harbour species of fi ve arthropod orders. Two host plant families, viz., Caparidaceae and Cypreraceae harbour only orthopteran insects. Two plant families (Polygonaceae and Boraginaceae) harbour hymenopteran insects. Two host plant families Chenopodiaceae and Caesalpiniaceae harbour only hemipteran insects. Eight host-plant families (Anonaceae, Saporaceae, Acanthaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Verbenaceae, Dioscoriaceae, Plamnaceae, and Flacourtiaceae) harbour only coleopteran insects. Two families Amaranthaceae and Rubiaceae harbour both coleopteran insects and arachnids whereas plants of Rhamnaceae family harbour only arachnids. The fi ndings are tabulated in the form of distribution pattern, host-family association and binary (presence/absence) data. The present work not only indicates a new aspect of biodiversity but also measures partially the quality of environment with regard to the bioindicator study recording the seasonal/ monthly abundance pattern of these insects