Diversity, Abundance, Dispersion and Temporal Spread of Arthropods Associated with Golden melon (Cucumis melo L.) in Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria

Hemen Ityodugh James Agere; Emmanuel Okrikata; Ibrahim Markus Biyabra; Kasimu Mohammed; Patrick Begiangbegwubende Atsu

doi:10.53848/ssstj.v13i2.1689

Authors

Hemen Ityodugh James Agere Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Federal University Wukari
Emmanuel Okrikata Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Federal University Wukari
Ibrahim Markus Biyabra Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Federal University Wukari
Kasimu Mohammed Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Federal University Wukari
Patrick Begiangbegwubende Atsu Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Federal University Wukari

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53848/ssstj.v13i2.1689

Keywords:

Buzas and Gibson’s Evenness, Golden melon, Iwao’s patchiness regression, Shannon-Weiner index, Taylor’s power law, Spatial distribution

Abstract

Arthropod community structure of golden melon (Cucumis melo L.) was investigated in Wukari, Nigeria wherein arthropods were sampled weekly across the crop growth stages using a modified portable 2-stroke gasoline-powered leaf-blower and vacuum machine (Model number: EBV260E; Power: 0.7KW/7500Min.) with a 5cm diameter inlet cone used to sweep through 4m length of the middle row of 12, 16m² experimental plots at an approximate walking speed of 1m/sec. The relative abundance (RA), frequency of occurrence (FO), diversity indices, spatial dispersion and pest:natural enemy ratio of the specimens were documented. Diversity indices were computed, and spatial distribution patterns of dominant species were determined using Taylor’s and Iwao’s patchiness regression models. Forty-eight (48) species belonging to 30 families and 10 orders were recorded. Coleopterans and Hymenopterans were the most diverse orders while chrysomelid beetles and sap sucking Hemipterans constituted the major pest groups. Natural enemies; particularly ants, coccinellid beetles, wasps, and spiders were abundant and widely distributed. Dominant pest species (RA≥1.0% and FO≥25.0%) included Aphis gossypii, Asbecesta nigripennis, Aulacophora africana, Bactrocera cucurbitae and Bemisia tabaci. The population densities of pests and natural enemies largely peaked within the vegetative to flowering. Overall, spatial distribution analyses for the dominant arthropods largely show a tendency to aggregated distribution. Community diversity was high (H=3.361) with high species richness (R=6.650) and moderately high evenness (E=0.600). Overall pest-natural enemy ratio was 0.78:1. These findings highlight effective biological regulation and ecological stability of the golden melon agro-ecosystem at Wukari and underscore the potential for conservation based integrated pest management strategies.

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