Title of the Project

Field Study Report on Insect Diversity across Raja Peary Mohan College and Adjoining Areas,
Uttarpara, Hooghly, West Bengal.

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Submitted to
Department of Zoology, Raja Peary Mohan College (H-03), Uttarpara, Hooghly, West Bengal

Submitted by
Subject: Honours in Zoology (HZO)
Course Name: Animal Behaviour and Insect Biology Course Code: DS-ZO-21
Roll : A-04/H-03 Number : 104268
Registration No.: 222004130019
Session: LCES, 2024 (Phase-2)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The present field study was undertaken for partial fulfilment of the B.Sc. Degree in Zoology (Honours) under
Netaji Subhas Open University (CBCS).

I want to thank everyone who has helped and supported me throughout this field study.

First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge Prof. Jyoti Das, Coordinator of LCES Program, Department
of Zoology, Raja Peary Mohan College, for providing necessary routine accommodation to undertake this
curricular field study.

I would like to express sincere gratitude to my faculty members, Dr. Saikat Roy and Prof. Medha Banerjee
for successful organization, careful supervision and proper guidance in the field.

I am thankful to all the other teaching and non-teaching staffs of the Department, for their spontaneous
cooperation and guidance throughout our field study.

I am grateful to my batch mates, who not only participated in this field study, but also contributed with their
ideas and perspectives during preparation of this report.

Finally I am thankful to my parents for allowing me to participate in the field study.

Date: Name:
 Name of the Project:

Field Study Report on Insect Diversity across Raja Peary Mohan College and Adjoining Areas,
Uttarpara, Hooghly, West Bengal.

Objective of the Project:

The objective of this project is to gain knowledge about the diversity of insects in our college and adjoining areas.
This project deals with the collection and identification of insects of diverse groups including ants, cockroaches, flies,
moths, butterflies, beetles etc. Due to their diverse body size, feeding habits, habitats, fecundity, different modes of
respiration etc., insects are the most diverse, successful, and dominant taxon of the animal kingdom. Because of these
diverse characteristics, they became an important component of our ecosystem. They have a significant influence on
pollination, agriculture, human health, and natural resources. Insects are extremely important to ecosystems and they
are what make the ecosystems tick. Understanding the extent of insect diversity is one of the major challenges in
modern ecology. They have permeated the diverse and essential natural processes that sustain biological systems,
making up over 75% of known species of animals. Thus, the diversity and ecological importance of insects make
them very valuable for studies of biodiversity. Similarly, Insects have great potential for understanding ecosystems
and as measures of ecosystem health, but the incompleteness of knowledge and the limitation of resources increase the
difficulty of working on insect biodiversity. This was the main reason for analysing the status of insect diversity across
Raja Peary Mohan College and adjoining areas, Uttarpara, Hooghly, West Bengal.

Introduction: Insects are the largest and most diverse group of organisms on earth. The total number of recorded
species stands for about 1 million in number. However, there is some speculation within the scientist that the actual
number of insect species may even exceed 20 million. These amazing creatures makeup about 75% of all described
animal species. Irrespective of their abundance yet they are undermined because of their size. Insects are found
almost everywhere on the earth surface. They can sustain even in most inhabitable place, it may be desert or
icecaps, land or water, trenches or mountains anywhere we go we can still find the presence of an insect even in
most rugged condition. All thanks to their physiologyical and morphologyical characters which help them to
adapt themselves in any condition. The general characters of an insect include three segmented body, three paires
legs, small size, short life cycle protective exoskeleton presence of functional wings, compound eyes
decenterilized nervous system open circulatory system, presence of sensory antenna, direct respiration, scattered
sense organs entero-nephric excretion, high fecundity, food specificity, various morphologyical physiologyical and
behavioural adaption, etc. These are some of the factors that are responsible for insect abundance and also their
humongeous diversity the magnificence of insect species diversity is greatest in tropical region, specifically in
neo-tropics.
The diversity of insects today as a far as we know is the richest it has ever been variety is so great that the insects
make up three quarters of all species. Insects have radiated into so many diverse forms that we have not been also
to describe a large chunk of their populations.
Insects one important because of their diversity, ecological role influence on agriculture, human health and natural
resource. Insects create the biological foundation for all terrestrial ecosystem. They cycle nutrients, pollinate plants,
disperse seeds, maintain soil structure and fertility, control populations of other organisms and provide a major
food source for other Taxa.
Our natural heritage often referred to as “Biological diversity” or “Bio diversity” is the variety and richness of the
living forms of this planet inclusive of all species of plants, animals and the many different kinds of small
organisms. The Rio Summit (1992) defines Bio-diversity means the variability among the living organisms from
all sources including between species and of ecosystems. Mathew, Rugmini and Sudheendra Kumar (2014)
pointed out that about 67,000 species of insects have been recorded from various ecosystems in India, as early as
in 1996.
Nearly all (Biologists) attributed the loses to human activity, especially the destruction of plants and animals habits.
(War rick 1998). In 1996, Dick vane Wright suggested systematizes be proactive in explaining the Bio-diversity
crisis to laypersons who were unfamiliar with the concept, suggestions included:
 i. Introduction to databases that are more accessible and user oriented.
ii. Better tax on sampling, recording and storage using advanced technology.
iii. Better systematic analysis for powerful predictive systems.
Ranking high in the scale of animal’s life and the largest of all phyla is the phylum Arthropods. It represents a vest
assemblage of segmented animals with chitin as exoskeleton and jointed appendages such as crustaceans,
centipedes, millipedes, insect, scorpions, spiders and their allies. Arthropods are the only major invertebrates
capable on flight. They have most successfully established themselves all over the globe in diverse habits,
wherever life is possible an earth. They occur over high mountain anges, 2000 feet above the sea level and have
also been brought up from the deepest sea bottom. They fly, swim, hop, crawl, and just sit still. Some are
gregarious while some colonial insects have evolved social organizations with a well-marked division of labour
among members of different castes. The science which deals with the study of insects (their structure, function,
biology, etc) is called entomology. Applied entomology deals specifically with the study of harmful and beneficial
insects.
Insect are an integral part of any ecosystem. Their variety, number, size life history, food habits, power of
adaptation and various modes of locomotion are some of the reasons for the success of this group in influencing
the structure and function of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Entomology may be defined as the study of insect.
Like many other groups of animal arthropods are segmented creatures, that is the body is composed of a similar
repeating units. In insects this body segmented are grouped into three more or less distinct regions comprising
head, thorax and abdomen and opposed to other class of arthropods which have a different body plan.
Estimate for total number of species on earth varies within a wide range from 3 to 10 million and 20 to 100
million. Actually, no one knows exactly how many species have existed, since the inception of life on earth, But
the number at present is much smaller in proportion. Gullah and Cranston (2010), stated that the number of
described species of insects varies from 7,50,000 to over one million The composition and richness of species
assemblages also strongly influences ecosystem functionally and stability. (Naeem et al., 1994; Tilman and
Downing, 1994; Mc Caan, 2000). The number of known kinds or species of insect is difficult to estimate but
certainly exceeds that of all other animals together that approximately 7,00,000 different insect have been named
and described is probably a conservative estimate. Usually several thousand new species are described in single
year, but not withstanding this rate of discovery there is no doubt that the numbers yet to be brought to light exceed
those of all the known kinds. This remarkable capacity for differentiation shown by insects does not lend itself to
exact analysis. It is however a matter of interest to consider some attributes which have most likely helped the
numbers of this class to attain their dominant position in the animal kingdom. Trapping method for collection
insect in the absence of the collector especially at night. There are many type of taps and the more common ones
are described. Light trapping is used mainly for natural insects like moths, midges. Some beetles and the delicate
lacewingsAll of the described insect species have been divided into 32 orders, although some sources say that there
are 35 orders of these the most diverse and successful insects belong to the order coleopteran and are known as the
beetles. Some entomologists are of the view the order Diptera constituted by true flies and the order hymenoptera,
consisting of wasps, bees and ants could be as diverse or more so Insects are truly omnivorus their food includes
literally all that can be eaten. For example not only all parts of all plants and animals, but clothes, wool, silk, paper,
books, wood, furniture, rubber and various other raw and manufactured articles. The blood of insect consists of
the haemolymph, in which float haematoceles. It is alkaline or slightly acidic and is either transparent or coloured
green, yellow, red or brown.
Biological diversity is one of the most fascinating aspects of biology. It also encompasses functioning, intact plant
and animal communities and the processes that affects them. Great insect diversity is indeed an intrinsic part of
the Earth’s ecosystem. They are what make the ecosystem tick, remarked (Samways, 1994). Insects are extremely
diverse and important to ecosystems (Speller berg, etal,2003). They have permeated the diverse and essential
natural processes that sustain biological systems, making up over 75% of known species of animals (Danks. H
.V,1996). The structure of insects has allowed exploiting niches in almost all the habitats of the world. There are
1.4 million species of insects described in the scientific literature which is 80% of life currently recorded on
earth(Ditchkoff.S,2016). Conversation of natural resources and Bio-diversity has become urgent issues in recent
years for attaining an environmentally sustainable future (Chouldry. A, Ahi.J, 2015). While lack of data has
historically excluded the use of many taxa as possible indicators (Samways.M.J,2007). Therefore, careful
targeting any study is essential. Keeping in view the diverse and characteristics feature of insects, the present
survey was aimed to describe some aspects of insect diversity found in and around our college campus.
Bio-diversity study of insects is focused directly on the variations at the species of insects. Compared to vertebrates
and many plants, insects usually have relatively life spans, rapid generation times and often highreproductive
output, meaning that populations can fluctuate greatly, both temporally and spatially.
The Bio-diversity of insect fauna in the present campus is mainly due to the rich vegetation in this area vegetation plays
an important role for the existence of insect fauna in a community, as it provides the main source of food etc for
insects. In the present investigation is an attempt to access the relative abundance of insects in the campus of Raja
Peary Mohan College, Hooghly.
Materials and Methods of the Study:
A.Study Area: In present investigation the insects were collected from Raja Peary Mohan College campus, Hooghly.
Insects live highly diverse habitats and could be found practically everywhere on the campus. In present study,
collection of most species were done between 10:00am-2:00pm and twice in the day, in the month of Jan-March 2025
majority of insects were collected from all sorts of plants: Flowers, Weeds, Shrubs and trees. Some were found around
and on the walls of building blocks

Methodology
Methods of collecting insects:
The study involved field visits to the entire campus. The insects were collected by following methods. The insect
preservation was avoided.
A good zoological collection should consist of at least four individuals representative of each of the orders of the
Insecta. Thus the collection should reflect the great diversity of form which occurs in the Insecta.
A good place to start collecting insects is a flowering hedgerow or garden where insects can be found on the
flowers, leaves and stems. Another place to look for small insects is in the soil about the roots of plants.
Before proceeding to collect insects, the equipment used for collection should be assembled. The equipment used
is simple and inexpensive. The collecting kit includes the following items: killing bottle, hand lens, pen knife or
scalpel, scissors, forceps, insect net, beating tray, notebook and pencil, small brushes.
Our experimental period is about around three months is Feb, March and April. There are many methods of
collecting insects but only important methods for our investigation, we used the following methods.

1. Hand picking : The insects are picked up by hand and placed in a container. This method is used for
collecting large insects such as beetles, bugs and grasshoppers. The method is tedious and only a few
specimens can be collected easily.
2. Insect net : A general insect net is a light cloth bag hung from a loop that is attached to a handle. The
general-purpose net or butterfly net should have a loop of steel wire, 30 cm in diameter and a bag of
thin muslin or mosquito netting material. The bag should be tapered towards the bottom and should be
at least twice as long as the diameter of the frame, so that with a twist of the wrist it can be closed over
the frame. The handle should be about 60 cm long for easy manoevering. The handle may be of
wood or metal and is connected by means of a screw arrangement to the metal ring. This type of net is
used for catching butterflies, moths, dragonflies, wasps and other large-winged insects. Butterfly nets
are best used under sunny day conditions when they will not get wet.

3. Beating : This method is suitable for collecting crawling insects and those which rest on branches. A
beating tray is held under a branch which is then hit sharply with a stick. A simple beating tray can be
made from canvas spread by strips of wood. When a beating tray is not available, an upturned
umbrella may be used.
4. Trappings : This is a method for collecting insects in the absence of the collector, especially at night.
There are many types of traps and the more common ones are described here:
a) Light traps : Light trapping is used mainly for nocturnal insects like moths, midges, some beetles
and the delicate lacewings. It consists of a source of light, such as bright electric light bulb
(preferably of blue colour, 200 watts), baffle plates and a collecting container. A simpler form of
light trap consists of a white sheet hung so that a light shines upon it. The lower edge of the sheet
is turned up to form a trough into which some of the insects fall. The most efficient light traps are
fitted with mercury vapour lamps.
MEANS OF IDENTIFYING INSECTS :
There are several possible ways of dealing with the problem of identifying Insects.
a) Use of keys :
Keys are published aids to the identification of insects which use a sequence of steps based on diagnostic
characters of the species concerned. Many readers will be familiar with such keys for the identification of insects.
b) Identification services :
When correct identification of an insect is important specimens may be sent or taken to the Entomology Division of
Tamilnadu Agricultural Research Institute, Tirunelveli. Each centre retains specialist staff who will identify and
provide advice of on pests plant diseases and also weed problems.
c) Visual recognition :
All agriculturalists and horticulturalists should get to know the important pests that affect the plants with which they
are concerned so that they can recognize them on sight. This is not too difficult, as with familiarity insects become as
distinct as human beings.
The location of such stages for example in the soil or on particular plants, may also provide valuable clues. Many pests
cause plant injury only in the larval stage but ability to recognize the adults as well may be most important in practice,
as this may determines timing and placement of control measures.
With general visual recognition of pests, confusion is most likely to arise where there are two or more species of
similar overall appearance and differing only detail. Some difference between such species of invariably occur
however and attention to detail will enable them to be separated.

IDENTIFICATIONS
BLATTODAE :
 Blattodae are cursorial insects, with the hind legs similar in shape and size to the middle legs, many
species are extremely rapid runners.
 Some species lack wings, when wings are present the forewings are modified into moderately
sclerotized tegmina that protect the membranous hind wing.
 The antennae are filiform and typically display more than 30 segments.

COLEOPTERA :

 The antennae have 8-11 segments and are lamellate which enable them to hold segment of club tight together
or expanded.
 Coleoptera usually have two pairs of wings. The front pair of wings called elytra.
 It has six legs or be legless almost maggot like and generally are called cawed grubs
DIPTERA :

 The legs of Diptera are ambulatory or cursorial, with specializations, in some groups, which may involve a
single pair, usually the prothoracic.
 All Diptera are equipped with only one pair of functional wings, which are on the mesothorax.
 Adults of lower Diptera possess elongate, filamentous antennae composed of six or more segments.
 The antennae usually are longer than the length of head and thorax combined.

HYMENOPTERA

 Hymenoptera have two pairs of wings, but they are often latched together so they appear to have only two
wings
 There are usually three pairs of legs on the thorax and six or eight on the abdomen.
 The antennae vary greatly in form. Rarely are they shorter than the head is wide. They are moderately
long,
sometimes longer than the body and composed of many segments.

LEPIDOPTERA :
 All about lepidopterans have two pairs of wings. The name Lepidoptera is derived from the Greek,
meaning “scaly winged” and refers to the characteristic covering of microscopic dust like scales on the
wings.
 Lepidoptera have three pairs of well developed jointed legs. Each legs consists of nine segments.
 The basis structure of antennae of Lepidoptera is usually filiform, which is altered into the capitates of
antennae, which are club shaped with a long shaft and a bulb at the end
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Insects and bio-diversity go hand in hand. Without insects our planet would not survive as they are essential to
bio-diversity (Francis matu.2017). Being innumerable and diverse in nature, insects are important links in both
aquatic and terrestrial food chains (Caddisfly , 2014). Many insects are natural recyclers as they can return
nutrients to the soil alone, through degradation of wood and leaf litter, dispersed of fungi, disposal of Carrion and
dung etc. Such activities of insects help to maintain soil fertility and to create new soil as well.
This is the first study which reports the abundance and distribution of insects in the Raja Peary Mohan Colleege
Campus, Uttarpara, Hooghly district. Diversity of the insects in the present campus can be utilized as an indicator
of changing environmental conditions in the campus. In this study, a total of 488 individual of insects from 5
orders were collected. They are from the order of Blattodae (cockroaches). Coleoptera (beetles).Diptera (flies),
Hymenoptera (wasps, bees and ants), Lepidoptera (moth and butterfly), . The total number of insects recorded and
the percentage of insect’s orders were presented in Table.1
The insects we collected are ecologically important species. Several groups of insects are known to exhibit and live
in social groups. The most well known social insect is the honey bee that has a high economic importance. The
honey bee can also indicate the productivity of the ecosystem. During the study, insects living in colonies
representing three orders including Hymenoptera, Diptera and Hemiptera were observed.
Hymenoptera is one of the most diverse orders of insects including 115000 described species representing 84
families. Hymenoptera are not only diverse in terms of structure, size and numbers of species but also in their habits
and life histories. Lepidoptera are commonly known as “butterflies” and “moths”. The Coleoptera (beetles) are the
largest single order of insects, 360000 families with 125 different families. Many beetles are regarded as major
parts of agricultural plants as well as grains and wood products. The Hemiptera is the largest and by far the most
successful insects. There are at least 80,000 species globally Hemipterans are important as they are Dopterans are
one of the major success of the insect world , and the diversity has been modified at times and has tried to sustain
itself in changing circumstances. The outcome of the study can be used constructively in planning sustainability of
both man and natural environment. The various insect orders that were identified during the brief study have only
highlighted the potential magnitude of biodiversity on campus.

Overall, our results highlighted that a small compact area like a segregated college campus supports a diverse of
insect species. Among the identified 9 orders of the insects, belonging to the order pollinating Lepidoptera is
found to be the most abundant insect order comparing to other orders of insects. Among the collected insects
edible insects 20.4%, pollinating insects 30.8%, Harmful insects 15.3%, medicinal insects 27.7%, predator insects
5.8% are insects.
 Table .1. Total number of insects and the percentage of insect order in the present campus.

Insect Order Total (Approx.) Percentage

Blattodae 25 15.1%
Coleoptera 50 20.2%
Diptera 125 25.1%
Hymenoptera 80 15.3%
Lepidoptera 125 24.3%
Total 405 100%
Pie Chart:

Blattodae
Coleopetra
Diptera
Hymenoptera
Lepidoptera

SUMMARY:

Bio diversity is the degree of variation of life. Insects are a class of invertebrates within the Arthropod phylum.
Insects are among the most diverse group of animals on the plant, including move than a million described species
and representing more than half of all known living organisms. The objectives of this project is to gain knowledge
about the diversity of insects in our College area. This project deals with the collection and identification of
insects.

The largest group of animal kingdom is represents by the class of Insecta. Insect which account for over half of all
living described organisms have a very significant role in the ecosystem by affecting the diversity abundance and
distribution of plant communities. The insect diversity of Raja Peary Mohan College, Hooghly was studied by
weekly samples taken from Feb 15 to April 15. Around SDKWC insects biodiversity was found to be showing a
significant impact due to urbanization. The result of the present investigation reveals that the occurrence of 9
orders are in our College campus.

Among identified 5 orders insects belonging to the order Blattodae, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera,
Lepidoptera.

Among the collected insects edible insects 20.4%, pollinating insects 30.8%, harmful insects 15.3%, medicinal
insects 27.7%, predator insects 5.8%.

This study recommended the Indian government to bring out insects conservation legistastion Act under Indian
Wildlife Protect ion Act.

It was concluded that urbanization and climate condition are found to be an important factors in determining the
distribution of insects in the selected study area.
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