An Overview of Insect Biodiversity in Horticultural Ecosystem of Himachal Pradesh

This study evaluated the insect biodiversity within the Thunag region of the Seraj valley in Himachal Pradesh. Comprehensive sampling from January 2022 to August 2023 yielded a total of 1136 arthropods encompassing 87 species across 11 orders and 50 families. Lepidoptera was the most dominant order contributing 31.87%, represented by 362 insects belonging to 30 species and 15 families followed by Coleoptera (30.90%). Mantodea, Megaloptera and Dermaptera showed the least abundance each represented by a single species. Diverse population of beneficial insects belonging to the order Odonata and Hymenoptera. Shannon’s index value was highest for Lepidoptera (2.58) that signify this order’s remarkable diversity closely trailed by Coleoptera and Hemiptera. Margalef index and Simpson’s index, ranging from 0.00 to 2.38 and 0.44 to 1.00, respectively underscore the region’s high species richness and diversity.