Study of entomophage bioindicator taxa species composition and their regulatory activity in the central and western zones of Krasnodar Territory agrocenoses

The study of the species composition and regulatory activity of entomophages as bioindicator taxa in agrocenoses of the central and western zones of Krasnodar Territory.

The research was carried out in 2021–2023 on various agricultural and fruit crops and weed on the basis of experimental scientific crop rotation of the FRCBPP (Krasnodar), the Kuban educational and experimental farm (Krasnodar) and in the Dinsky, Abinsky and Crimean districts of the Krasnodar Territory.

An assessment of the biodiversity of ladybugs of the Coccinellidae family among the entomofauna in agroecosystems of the central zone of the Krasnodar Territory showed that out of ten identified species eight are entomophages that reduce the number of insect pests (aphids, scale insects, whiteflies, etc.), while two species are mycophages. It was found that the dominant bioindicator species controlling aphids in field crops is C. septempunctata, whose population density exceeded the other nine species, amounting to 75 %. The second bioindicator species controlling the number of lepidopteran pests of the genus Bracon (Hymenoptera Braconidae). From the order Neuroptera: green lacewing, Chrysopa carnea Steph.; seven–point lacewing, Chrysopa septempunctata L.; lacewing, Chrysopa phyllochroma Wesmael. Of the suborder of short-whiskered diptera: 39 % of the species belong to entomophage ladybugs of the Coccinellidae family; 13 % of the Empididae family; 6 % of the Dolichopodidae family; 10 % of the Asilidae family; 7 % of the Bombyliidae family and 3 % of the Syrphidae family.

As a result of the research, the main bioindicator species of entomophages were identified among the families of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera, Coccinelidae), Braconidae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), Chrysopidae (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae), and representatives of the suborder of short-whiskered diptera (Diptera, Brachycera).

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