Seasonal abundance and diversity indices on predatory coccinellids in different crop ecosystems at mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh

The study was conducted during 2023–2024 in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, to assess the relative abundance and diversity of predatory coccinellids across five major cropping systems: mustard, chilli, wheat, maize, and okra. A total of eighteen predatory coccinellid species belonging to twelve genera were documented. The mustard ecosystem recorded the highest number of coccinellid individuals (1997), followed by chili (765), wheat (682), maize (549), and okra (542). Coccinella septempunctata emerged as the most dominant species across all crops, with relative abundance ranging from 36.78% in maize to 56.86% in chili. The next most prevalent species was Hippodamia variegata, showing the highest relative abundance in wheat (48.53%) and substantial presence in mustard (45.74%), okra (35.02%), chili (31.89%), and maize (29.9%). The least represented species were Halyzia sanscrita and Palaeoneda auriculata, each with a relative abundance of only 0.14%. Analysis of diversity indices revealed the highest coccinellid diversity in maize, followed by okra and chili, whereas mustard recorded the lowest diversity. Correlation studies indicated that in wheat and mustard, populations of the predominant coccinellid species showed highly significant positive correlations with maximum and minimum temperatures, while morning relative humidity exhibited a significant negative correlation. In other crops, weather parameters showed no significant correlation with coccinellid populations. The predominance of indigenous predatory coccinellids across the surveyed cropping systems and their seasonal dynamics identify crop habitats that can support conservation biological control.