A Preliminary Survey of Harmful Date Palm Fauna in D. I. Khan
Ejaz Ahmad Khan
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan.
Iqtidar Hussain *
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan.
M. Niamat Ullah
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Gomal University, D.I. Khan, Pakistan.
Muhammad Aqdas Takreem Khan
Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A survey was conducted to find out date palm fauna in D.I. Khan on the variety “Dhakki” in the months of June to September, 2014. The observed insects including Rhynchoforus ferrugineus, Palaminus simony, Palaminus nilgirienses (Staphylinidae), Sparostes striatulus (Carabidae), Coccinella septumpunctata (Coccinellidae), Clerada apicicornis (Lygidae), Monomorium indicum (Formicidae) and Blata orientalis (Blattidae). All the three stages (larva, pupa and adult) of Rhynchophorus ferrugenius were collected from within the palm and it was found as the major insect. Among the pollinating insects; beetles, bees (honey bees and bumble bees) and flies were observed and collected. In addition to above mentioned insects, myriads of arachnids viz. Peucitia prasina, Acanthodan crassus, Acanthodan fortis and snails viz. Monoca obstructa were also collected from the leaves and stem, respectively. All the insects had no influence on the date palm, except Red Palm Weevil (RPW).
Keywords: Date palm, dhakki variety, red palm weevil, fauna