Insect species associated with mandarin (Citrus reticulate) and pest management practices in Sigana, Baglung, Nepal

Abstract

The study was conducted in Mandarin orchard at Sigana, Baglung district from 2 September to 23 November 2022. Insects were collected by hand-picking, beating, sweeping method and pheromone trap. Farmers were interviewed by using questionnaire to know the pest management practices. Altogether nine predator species and 13 pest species were recorded. Among predators Coleoptera (88.77%) and Dermaptera (11.21%) and among pest species belong to four orders, Hemiptera (94.12%), Diptera (5.45%), Coleoptera (0.38%) and Lepidoptera (0.02) were recorded. The Shannon-Winner diversity index and evenness for non-pest was 1.549 with Pielou’s species evenness as 0.5231 and for insect pests species was 1.186 and 0.2517 respectively. Majority of the farmers (50%) used chemical plus cultural method, 25% adopted chemical plus bio-pesticides and remaining 25% adopted IPM method.