Diversity of insect fauna in correlation to abiotic factors on wheat crop in agroecosystem of Faisalabad

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the major staple food of Pakistan. Many insect pests are attacking the wheat crop. In the present study the overall population of insect pests species i.e. Aphids, Midges, Grasshopper, Wasps, Cricket, along with natural enemies such as Spiders, Coccinellids, and Chrysoperla were surveyed from field Inspected specimens and correlated with abiotic factors and their diversity on the wheat crop was studied. The biggest insect population was found in March, according to the statistics. Aphids (148.08), Spiders (3.65), Midges (149), Crickets, Wasps (22), Grasshoppers (3.5), Chrysoperla (7.75), and Coccinellids (4.39) in relation to maximum and minimum temperatures (24.5 °C, 13.9 °C), rainfall 135mm, and relative humidity in the morning and afternoon (85 percent, 62.4 percent ). Insect population was lowest in January, with Spider (0.45), Aphids (3.44), Midges (7.69), Coccinellids (0.33), Grasshoppers (0), Wasps (0), Chrysoperla (0.75) in all traps (pitfall, sweep net, and aspirator) in relation to maximum and minimum temperature (17.3 ^oC and 5.5 ^oC), rainfall 50.8mm, and relative humidity in the morning and afternoon (88.3 percent & 60.3 percent). The results revealed that insect diversity of Midges, Aphids, Crickets, Chrysoperla, and Wasps showed a positive but non-significant correlation with temperature while Coccinellids, Spiders, and Grasshoppers had a negative and non-significant effect. Whereas, relative humidity showed a significant as well as a positive correlation with Midges, Aphids, Grasshopper, and Wasps while rainfall showed a negative & non-significant correlation with all insects.