Vigyan Varta An International E-Magazine for Science Enthusiasts E-ISSN: 2582-9467
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www.vigyanvarta.com Vol-3, Issue-6 Dadarao et. al. (2022)
Factors Affecting Insect Abundance
Shinde Dnyaneshwar Dadarao*, Mukesh Kumar, Singh and Amit Kuar
Department of Entomology, Post Graduate College of Agriculture,
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Bihar), India
Corresponding Author
Shinde Dnyaneshwar Dadarao
Email: dnyaneshwarshinde4484@gmail.com
OPEN ACCESS
Keywords
Natural enemies, Abiotic factors, Industrialization, Diapause, Hibernation.
How to cite this article
Dadarao, S. D., Singh, M. K. and Kumar, A. 2022. Factors affecting Insect Abundance. Vigyan Varta
3(6): 11-14.
.
ABSTRACT
Survival and thriving in harsh environments necessitate unique adaptations and plastic
responses. Food, intra- and inter-specific competition, and natural enemies are all biotic
factors. Agriculture and industrialization have a significant impact on these ecosystems.
Natural enemies play an important role in the population control of forest insects. Insect
numbers are regulated by intraspecific competition and natural enemies, according to
several theories. The regenerative limit of most insects is impacted by dampness yet
various insects can endure conditions going from outrageous dryness to approach
immersed conditions. Termites and ants build protective structures such as nests. The
body of the insect is always balanced on a tripod, while the other three legs move forward.
INTRODUCTION and inter-specific competition, and natural
enemies are all biotic factors. Agriculture and
S
everal biotic and abiotic factors, as well industrialization have a significant impact on
as their interactions, influence insect these ecosystems. During the last three
abundance and distribution. Survival decades, increased incidence and outbreaks of
and thriving in harsh environments necessitate a number of insect pests have resulted from the
unique adaptations and plastic responses. intensification of agriculture using high
Temperature and humidity stand out as the yielding varieties grown under new agronomic
most important abiotic factors limiting insect practices with increased irrigation facilities
abundance and distribution. Furthermore, and extensive use of agro chemicals.
abiotic factors, particularly temperature, have
been shown to influence the ecology of insect Biotic factors: Every plant and animal species
communities. Various biotic and abiotic experiences rhythmical changes in population
factors limit insects' innate capacity to increase in response to food availability and the
in numbers in natural conditions. Food, intra- presence or absence of natural enemies.
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1. Food: of most insects is impacted by dampness yet
various bugs can endure conditions going from
Food quantity and quality determine survival,
outrageous dryness to approach immersed
development, and multiplication. If a
conditions. Other environmental factors like
sufficient food supply is available, an insect
light, atmospheric pressure, air current, and
population will grow in number and become a
pest. Modern agriculture, which relies on carbon dioxide concentration also influence
large-scale monocultures of a few high- insect abundance to a lesser extent.
yielding varieties of important crops to provide
An insect is usually affected by both biotic and
an endless supply of food, is increasing insect-
abiotic factors at the same time. Density
pest outbreaks.
independent (abiotic) and density dependent
2. Natural enemies: (interspecific competition, natural enemies,
etc.) environmental factors combine to
Natural enemies play an important role in the
increase insect populations. Insects constitute
population control of forest insects. Insect
the largest class of the living world including
numbers are regulated by intraspecific
animal kingdom and plant kingdom, The
competition and natural enemies, according to
several theories. number of insect species known vary from
700-1500 thousand equal to 70-90% of all
Abiotic factors: known species in animal kingdom. The
various characteristic features responsible for
Climatic factors affect the endurance,
insect dominance are as under,
advancement and regenerative limit of bugs
and are viewed as the main source of A) Structural perfection: Exoskeleton, small
vacillations in populace. size, faster speciation, functional wings,
Temperature: Hexapod locomotion, compound eyes,
scattered sense organs, decentralised nervous
Life survives within a certain narrow range of system, direct respiration, and enteronephric
temperatures. Takeoff from this ideal reach on excretion are among the features.
the two sides might be endured somewhat,
contingent on the physiological Small size: Insects evolved a large number of
transformations. Temperatures above or smaller individuals in comparison to a small
beneath these cutoff points demonstrate number of larger individuals. This improved
deadly. A portion of the bug species have one's chances of surviving. Smaller people
created lethargy components (like diapause, require a smaller amount of food and can fit
hibernation and aestivation) to hold over times into tighter spaces.
of ominous temperatures
Quicker speciation: The chitinous
Moisture:
exoskeleton and development of wings, as
Most terrestrial insects are live in dry climate. well as the small size and large number of
The main wellspring of water is the water individuals, contribute to the large number of
gotten with food material from their host species in insects.
plants. These insects have fostered an
Functional wings: It's a unique trait that gives
assortment of instruments to moderate
you an advantage in survival, dispersal,
dampness. In like manner, extreme dampness
feeding, and breeding, avoiding enemies,
supports sickness episodes, influencing
catching food, and mating. Honey bees can fly
ordinary turn of events. The regenerative limit
at 14 kilometers per hour, hawk moths at 27
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kilometers per hour, and butterflies at 80 C) High fecundity: A pair of moths with high
kilometers per hour. fecundity and a faster rate of development can
cover the entire earth with a 25 mt layer if
Hexapod locomotion: Insects evolved into allowed to breed for one year, assuming each
hexapoda, which has the optimal number of
moth lays 200 eggs and completes its life cycle
legs. Walking becomes more difficult as the
in one month. Also, some social insects, such
number of legs increases, while walking with
as Ret, have controlled reproduction,
fewer legs becomes problematic. The body of
the insect is always balanced on a tripod, while producing only a few females and other
the other three legs move forward. workers, demonstrating social evolution.
Compound eyes: Insects have compound eyes D) Specificity of food: Insects have a wide
with a large number of units called ommatidia, range of eating habits. Polyphagous insects
such as 17,000 in a butterfly and more than such as locusts and armyworms exist, while
50,000 in a dragon fly, and insects do not lose others are plant or plant part specific (root
vision if one of these eyes is damaged partially. borer, stem borer, top shoot borer).
Scattered sense organs: Sense organs are E) Protective adaptations: Insects have
distributed on antennae, mouth parts, tarsi, and developed morphological, behavioral,
cerci, reducing the chances of them all being protective structure, and safe habitats to
damaged at the same time. protect themselves from biotic and climatic
changes. Morphological adaptations include
Decentralized nervous system: The central
nervous system is made up of a chain of the exoskeleton, secretion of protective
ganglia on the ventral side of the body and a venom, cryptic coloration.
brain in the head. Insects with no brain can be
Exoskeleton, protective venom secretion,
made to walk, fly, feed, mate, and lay fertile
and cryptic coloration are examples of
eggs.
morphological adaptations.
Direct respiration: Air is delivered to every
minute body part via a network of air tubes Adaptive behaviors include venom
known as tracheae, which have spiracles that secretion and death impersonation.
open to the outside. assuming an aggressive stance
Enteronephric excretion: The important Termites and ants build protective
organ of excretion is Malpighian tubules structures such as nests.
which open in hind gut instead of exterior. It is
suited for water conservation. Habits of jumping and flying to avoid
danger and get around unfavorable
B) Developmental characteristics: The egg, conditions are common in safe habitats.
larva, pupa, and adult stages are the four stages
of life. There is no competition for food or Finally, social insects such as termites,
space between parent and offspring because ants, and honey bees, which have a caste
the feeding stage larva and the reproductive system, division of labor, their own
stage adult require very different food and gardens, dairy, and language, represent the
habitat. The pupal stage is a resting stage with pinnacle of evolution.
high resistance and no nutritional
requirements.
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These are some of the characteristics that REFERENCES
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