J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2015: Vol.

29 (2):289-296
(289) ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

SEASONAL VARIATION IN DENSITY AND BIOMASS OF INSECTS IN NANDA DEVI

BIOSPHERE RESERVE, INDIA
Kishor Kumar1, P.C. Joshi2, Ritesh Joshi3 and Manoj Arya4
1
G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Himachal Unit, Mohal-Kullu, 175 126, H.P
2
Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidayalaya, Hardwar, Uttarakhand, India
3
Conservation and Survey Division, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawn, New Delhi
4
Departments of Zoology, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand
[Corresponding author E-mail1: kishorkkothari5@gmail.com]
Received: 06-10-2015 Accepted: 09-11-2015
The present study deals with the density, biomass and trophic composition of the insects in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, a
world Heritage site in the West Himalaya, India. A total of 91 insect species belonging to 7 orders of 24 families were recorded
during 2000-2002. The high density and biomass of insects was recorded during the rainy season, which may be due to the suitable
weather conditions and maximum availability of food plants. Low density and biomass of insect was recorded during the winter
season, which may be due the adverse climatic conditions (low temperature and snowfall) and scarcity of food plants in the high
altitude biosphere reserve. Herbivorous insect species were the most abundant, followed by predators, parasites and saprophagous.
The number of insects generally increases with rise in temperature.

The Himalaya is well known as the treasure house of the high
biological diversity1. This high biological diversity is due to its
unique climatic conditions, topography and diverse habitats.
In the present scenario, it is imperative to document the
existing information and prioritize the sites for extensive and
intensive study of the biodiversity in order to develop the future
course of conservation. India contributes 6.13% of Arthropods
recorded so far from all across the world2. A total of 2672
faunal species (which includes 1837 invertebrates and 835
vertebrate) has been reported from the Western Himalaya, out
of these, insects contributed 59.50%, fishes 4.67%,
birds19.50%, mammals 3.81% and reptiles 2.5%,
respectively3. Insects are the most diverse group of all living
things and form a major part of the global biodiversity. They
also constitute important components of diverse ecosystem
by providing essential ecological services such as pollination,
decomposition and biological control4-5. Studies on population
density and biomass of insects in some parts of India and
elsewhere have been carried out6-9. However, the available
literature indicates that no work has been done on population
dynamics, biomass and trophic composition of insects in the
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR), West Himalaya,
except studies on the ecology, adaptation and inventory10-14.
Earlier workers have conducted studies on the species
composition of insect fauna vis a vis altitudinal variations and
disturbances in NDBR15. Considering this gap, the present
study aims to: (i) study the species richness, population density
NAAS Rating (2016)-4.20
and biomass of insects (ii) and across the effect of climate
and season on the insect densities. The study was conducted
in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR), a world Heritage
Site, located in the Northern part of West Himalaya, India
(Map-1). Study area with wide altitudinal range (1,800-7,817
m asl) covers an area of 6,407.03 km2. The unique topography,
climate and soil support diverse habitats, species,
communities and ecosystems. The reserve harbors high
diversity of both flora and fauna. A total of 45 villages fall within
the buffer zone of the reserve, which are populated by 653
permanent and 4808 seasonal residents17. NDBR is recognized
for populations of endangered faunal elements18-19. The plant
diversity includes ecologically and economically important
species such as Aconitum heterophyllum, Podophyllum
hexandrum, Nardostachys grandiflora, Picrorhiza kurrooa ,
Saussurea ovallata etc. Within the reserve, four study sites
(with an area of 3 ha each) i.e., Reni, Lata, Tolma and Dronagiri
were selected in a manner that they represent different altitudes,
habitat types and level of disturbances due to settlements of
animals/ peoples of migratory grazers (Table-1).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Extensive collections of insects were made on regular monthly
intervals during (2000 - 2002) in all 4 identified sites. Various
approaches followed were:
a. Temperature and Humidity: Temperature and humidity
 SEASONAL VARIATION IN DENSITY AND BIOMASS OF INSECTS
of each study site was also recorded simultaneously during
the sampling of insects by using thermo hygrometer, so as to
determine the effect of these two environmental factors to the
insect density. Mean monthly value was presented for
temperature and humidity during November 2000-October 2002.
b. Density of insects: The insects were collected by Sweep
sampling method20. The collected insects were transferred into
bottles containing ethyl acetate soaked cotton. All the
specimens were brought to the laboratory; these were
preserved and subsequently got identified with reference to
collections in the Entomology divisions of the Zoological Survey of
India (ZSI), Kolkatta and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI),
New Delhi as well as with the help of available literature10, 21-22. The
study was conducted on monthly interval i.e, November 2000 to
October 2002. Density of insects was expressed as number
of individuals/hectare and the seasonal density is based on
the cumulative monthly data for each season viz, winter
(November, December, January, February), summer (March,
April, May, June), Rainy (July August, September, October).
c. Biomass of the insects: For biomass studies collected
individuals of the insect was stretched, pinned and oven dried
at 600C for 72 hours. After oven drying the each individuals of
insect were weighed along with entomological pin in a single
pan electric balance (0.01 mg accuracy). The average weight
of the pin 8(n=20) used in specimen was subtracted to get the
true biomass of the insects24.
d. Trophic structure of insects: Each taxon was classified
trophically as herbivore, predator, parasite and saprovore
through the inspection of mouthparts and using known food
habits of insect family during the sampling of the insects22.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Temperature and Humidity: The mean annual variation in
temperature and humidity during the study period for all study
sites in NDBR is given in Fig.- 1 (a-d).
Species composition: A total of 91 species of insects
belonging to 33 families of 7 orders were recorded during the
study period. Lepidoptera (18 spp.) was most species rich
order followed by Hymenoptera (15 spp.), Orthoptera (14 spp.),
Coleoptera (14 spp.), Odonata (11 spp.), Diptera (11 spp.) and
Hemiptera (8 spp.). (Appendix-1). Elevation dramatically
influences the species richness of insect in the present studies.
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Generally high species richness was observed for all reported
insect orders from low altitudinal or intermediate elevational
sites (Reni or Lata) while considerable decrease in richness
was observed among higher elevational sites (Tolma and
Dronagiri) for majority of reported insect orders (Fig.-2 and
Appendix-1). The species richness of insect orders significantly
decreases(r=-99, P<0.05) with increasing altitude. Annual
seasonal cycle also significantly influences the species
richness of different insect groups (Fig.-3a-d).
Trophic composition: The contribution of different insect
groups to different trophic levels has been presented in figure-
4 and trophic level composition of insect species has been
given in Appendix-I. Highest number of species belong to
herbivorous (50%) followed by Predators (36%), Parasite (10%)
and Saprovore(4%).
Density and Biomass: Insect density and biomass remarkably
increases during rainy season and relatively low insect densities
were observed in winter season from all study sites (Figure-
5and 6). With increasing temperature (Fig.-7 a-d), across sites,
insect densities generally showed increasing trends Reni (r =
0.86, P<0.01, n = 12), Lata (r=0.91, P< 0.01, n = 12), Tolma (r
= 0.93, P<0.01, n = 12) and Dronagiri (r = 0.70, P>0.05, n =
12) area of the reserve. Present study, also exhibits significant
positive correlations between density and mean biomass of
the insects in Reni (r = 0.97, P<0.01, n =12), Lata (r = 0.96,
P< 0.01, n = 12), Tolma (r = 0.98, P < 0.01, n = 12) and
Dronagiri (r = 0.95, P < 0.01, n = 12).
The richness of insects and their population densities during
rainy season can be attributed to optimum temperature and
humidity in the study sites which also leads to the availability
of greater number of food plants for the herbivorous insects
and greater prey base for the predators. The extreme climatic
conditions viz, low atmospheric temperature and snowfall has
resulted a low insect density during the winter season. Similar
pattern of seasonal insect densities has also been reported
by other workers in different parts of the world7-8, 25-26. The study
area falls within the temperate Himalayan region where
temperature and humidity play key role for proliferation of insect
population. Therefore, the higher biomass of insect in rainy
season corresponds with their higher density during the rainy
season. These findings are also concomitant with the studies
of other workers9,24, 27-29.
(291) KUMAR, JOSHI, JOSHI AND ARYA

Table-1. General features of the selected study sites in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve as recorded during
study period (2000-2002).

* All figure plotted in Table-1 are generated during the course of present study (2000-2002)

Increasing altitude also influences both, the species and
seasonal richness of different insect groups (Fig.-2 and 3a-d).
As such decreasing patterns of insect species richness with
increasing altitude also corresponds with other studies wherein
declining species richness of insects have been attributed to
decrease of food resources and temperature with increasing
altitude11,16, 30-35.
Meteorological factors have always been considered vital for
maintaining insect population in a given ecosystem36. The
number of insects invariably increases with rise in temperature
indicates a direct relationship between temperature and insect
activity in the study area. The study area, being representatives
of temperate climate, exhibits emergence of vegetation (i.e.,
herbaceous cover) in summer soon after the melting of snow
and starts blooming with onset of the rains. This would also
explain the reasons for the high richness and density of insects
during the rainy season because greater numbers of insect
species are flower visitor and herbivores32, 37-39.
As has been observed by earlier worker,all the reported texa
of insect in the present study have also not contributed equally
to the different trophic categories of insects (Fig.-4)7, 40-43.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors are thankful to Director, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan
Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora,
Uttarakhand for logistic support. Prof. B.D. Joshi, former Head
& Dean, Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences,
Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidayalaya, Hardwar highly
acknowledged for his continuous help and support during the
course of study. Residents of Reni, Lata, Tolma and Suraithota
village are duly acknowledged for their support in various ways
during the field survey.
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14
10

No. of species
12
N o. of S pe cie s

8 10
6 8
6
4 4
2 2
0 0

Lepid optera

O rthoptera

Hy m enoptera

Coleopteara

O dona ta

Hem iptera

Diptera
L e pid optera

O rtho pte ra

H ym en optera

C oleo pte ara

O do nata

H em iptera

D iptera
W in ter S um m er R ain y W in te r S um m er R a in y

a. Reni b. Lata

14
No. of species

12

N o. of spe cie s
12
10 10
8 8
6 6
4 4
2
0 2
0
Lepidoptera

Orthoptera

Hymenoptera

Coleopteara

Odonata

Hemiptera

Diptera

Le pido ptera

O rthop tera

H ym eno ptera

C o leop teara

O do nata

H em ipte ra

D ipte ra
Winter Sum m er Rainy
W i n te r S um m er R ain y

c. Tolma d. Dronag

Figure-3 (a-d): Seasonal richness of insects in different study sites.

20
18
16
No. of speceis

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Herbivore Predator Parasite Saprovore
Lepidoptera Orthoptera Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Hemiptera odonata Diptera

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 SEASONAL VARIATION IN DENSITY AND BIOMASS OF INSECTS (294)

Figure-6 . Seasonal variation in cumulative biomass of insects in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.

70 y = 2 .2 8 0 3 x - 5 .9 5 11 y = 2 .3 6 6 2 x - 8 .0 5 5 5
R2 = 0 .6 6 7 9 60 R2 = 0 .7 9 4 3
60

M ean density
50
M ean d ensity

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10 0
0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 M e a n te m p e ra tu re
M e a n te m p e ra t u r e b ( L a ta )
a ( R e n i)

y = 3 .2 3 7 x - 8 .2 4 4 1 y = 1 .2 2 3 9 x + 5 .7 6 2 6
80 R 2 = 0 .8 3 8 5
70 50 R 2 = 0 .3 8 9 1
M ean density
M ean density

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10
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25
M e a n te m p e ra t u r e
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c ( T o lm a )
d (D ro n ag iri)

Figure-7(a-d): Correlations between temperature and density of insects in different study sites of NDBR

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Appendix 1: Species richness and collection sites of insects across the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
(+ Species present; - species absent)

Contd.......
 SEASONAL VARIATION IN DENSITY AND BIOMASS OF INSECTS (296)

14(4): 327. 274.

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