Specific composition and seasonal fluctuation of destructive and beneficial insect species inhabiting three medicinal plants in assiut governorate

Abstract EN

Incidence and species composition of destructive and beneficial insect species inhabiting three medicinal plants namely; anise, Pimpinella anisum L.

; caraway, Carum carvi L.

and cumin, Cuminum cyminum L.

as well as the population fluctuation have been studied during the two growing seasons 2006 / 2007 and 2007 / 2008 at Abnoub district, Assiut Governorate, Egypt.

Data obtained cleared that 23 species belong to 21 genera, 18 families and 9 orders were associated with anise, caraway and cumin.

Destructive species were more dominant comprising 52.17% than beneficial species representing 47.83% of the total species.

The major component of destructive insects was Homopterous and Hemipterus insects, while Hemipterus and Hymenopterus insects for beneficial insects.

The highest number of insects was recorded on caraway followed by anise while cumin was the lowest one during the two seasons.

Anise achieved the highest number of destructive insects, whereas caraway harbored the highest number of beneficial insects.

The lowest number of destructive and beneficial insects was recorded on cumin.

However, the number of beneficial insects was more than destructive insects on anise and caraway, in reverse with cumin plants.

Destructive and beneficial insects were occurred in few numbers during February, but their peaks were recorded during April for the three medicinal plants.