DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF AQUATIC INSECT POPULATION IN SINGANALLUR LAKE, COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Abstract

Aquatic insects play ecological roles that are essential for the fresh water ecosystems to function properly. The aquatic insects are frequently surveyed as part of an environmental assessment or impact study. Also, the aquatic insects are considered one of the best biological indicators of water quality. This study deals with diversity and distribution of aquatic insects from three stations in the Singanallur lake of Coimbatore district for a period of four months from December 2013 to March 2014 from the three sampling sites of the lake. The aquatic insects were sampled systematically and randomly in station-wise habitats, using standard protocols. The insects belonging to the orders Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Odonata, Trichoptera, and Ephemeroptera were collected from December 2013 to March 2014 from the sampling sites. Hemiptera ranked first with the large population of individuals and percentage (1555 and 48.5%). The orders followed by Hemiptera were Coleoptera (631, 19.6%) Diptera (505, 15.7%), Odonata (333, 10.3%), Trichoptera (119, 3.7%), Ephemeroptera (61, 1.9 %).