ON THE DIVERSITY OF ACRUATIC INSECTS OF POLACHIRAWETLAND ECOSYSTEM IN KERALA

The diversity of aquatic insects are frequently used to asses environmental water quality status and health of aquatic ecosystems. This paper documents the diversity of aquatic insects in a wetland ecosystem represented by 7 orders and 33 families of 37 genera. The family Hydrophilidae showed maximum individual diversity followed by the order Hemiptera with 8 families, each order Odonata with 7 families, order Ephemeroptera and Coleoptera with 5 families, order Diptera with 3 families, order Collembola with 2 families and Plecoptera with 1 family. The present study revealed that Polachira wetland system is rich in the diversity of aquatic insects. However the insect fauna of this wetland is under threat due to habitat modification, reclamation of paddy fields, poaching, domestic wastes and human activities. Sustainable management and careful monitoring are to be ensured for the conservation of the rich biodiversity of this wetland ecosystem.