Diversity and Temporal Dynamics of Insect Communities in Tunisian Tomato Field Crops: A Case Study in Sidi Bouzid

Rasmi Soltani*and Eya Chalbaoui

Insect populations play a vital role in agricultural ecosystems, affecting crop productivity and overall ecosystem health. This study was conducted in three locations, El-Mzara 1, El-Mzara 2, and Zaafriya, in Sidi Bouzid governorate, Tunisia, and aimed to assess the diversity and abundance of insects associated with tomato crops using water traps from late March to early June 2021. The captured insects were collected and identified employing the RBA method. A total of 603 insects were captured. This biodiversity belonging to nine orders encompasses a total of 108 morpho-species distributed into 46 families. Results revealed that Coleoptera and Hymenoptera were the most abundant orders, while Hymenoptera exhibited the highest diversity with 34 morpho-species. The Shannon and Simpson indices indicated high diversity and even distribution of insect species in Mzara 1. The Margalef index suggested a relatively high level of species richness in this site. The temporal analysis of insect biodiversity showed variations in the abundance of different orders throughout the tomato cropping season. Hymenoptera species peaked during the flower stages, coinciding with their role as pollinators. Hemiptera species were most abundant during the fruit set and growth stages, which correspond to their harmful impact on tomato leaves and fruits. Lepidoptera species showed increased abundance during fruit set and growth stages as well. These first findings contribute to our understanding of the insect community structure within tomato crops. The data obtained serve as a valuable baseline for further research by identifying and monitoring the key insect species and their auxiliaries.

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Published on: Dec 21, 2024 Pages: 19-25

Full Text PDF Full Text HTML DOI: 10.17352/gjz.000032
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