Assessment of Aboveground Insects Associated Within Farm Fields of Musanze District: Abundance and Diversity

Natural pollination and the physical impairments on plant leaves, as well as plant diseases are indicators of the presence of aboveground insects. However, there is less evidence to describe the presence of such insects in Rwanda. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the abundance of the aboveground insect species in Musanze district, in the Northern part of Rwanda. Insect traps were laid in agricultural fields ten sectors of Musanze district; Busogo, Cyuve, Gacaca, Gataraga, Kimonyi, Kinigi,Musanze, Muhoza ,Muko and Nkotsi. The insects were caught using nets during the day and during night the traps were hung with light to attract insects. The insects were trapped and collected two consecutive seasons, during the month of April 2021 (wet season) and July 2021 (dry season). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 24 and Microsoft Excel package. The findings showed that the overall insect species abundance was as follows; Bush cricket (8.6%), Long-horned grass hoppers (15.4%), Bombardier beetles (3.4%), Stunk bug beetles (3.1%), Leaf chaffers (3.4%), Leaf beetles (3.7%), Honey bees (3.6%), Maize leaf hoppers (9.7%), swallowtail butterflies (18.9%), Wasps (2.2%), White butterflies (12.6%), White flies (9.2) and Leaf miners (6.2%). Hence, the results revealed that there is a significant difference in the mean amount between insects trapped. The swallowtails butterflies, which are beneficial insects, were highest in abundance (18.9%) whereas the stung bug beetles was recorded lowest abundance (3.1%). Since the collected insects included major beneficial insects, during insect pest control, farmers are recommended to firstly use trapping and netting methods before pesticides application. This can reduce the cost and dangers to human health and to beneficial insects as well. Besides, they can apply wide spectrum insecticides which have fewer hazards to the environment. 

Keywords: Insects, Abundance, Family, Population, Beneficial, Pest