Insect trappings in Arabian Sea with special reference to west coast of India

Live and dead insects were collected during cruise # 238 of Research Vessel Gaveshani during October-November 1993. The cruise covered an area between 70 degrees E to 73 degrees E and 10 degrees to 15 degrees N in the Arabian Sea. These included airborne insects as well as those in the flotsam. A to tal of 103 airborne insects, belonging to 8 orders and 14 families were tra pped. Of these, 6 specimens belonged to microlepidoptera. Hemiptera was the dominant order with a total of 58 specimens out of which 39 belonged to su b order Homoptera. Odonata was represented by 11 specimens of a single spec ies Pantala flavescence Fabr. which not only remained hovering over the Shi p throughout the cruise,but also showed the peculiar behaviour of flying al ong side the country boats that ferried the scientists between various isla nds in the Lakshadweep group and the mother ship. A total of 23 dead insect s belonging to 7 different orders and 11 families were collected as part of the flotsam. Most of these insects were complete and undamaged indicating that these had fallen in waters less than 12 h before being collected. A to tal of four specimens belonging to the only true marine insect Halobates we re also collected as part of the flotsam. Some specimens of Halovelia sp. a nd Xenobates sp, were also collected. A coleopteran belonging to family Sta phylinidae and some nymphs of an unidentified heteropteran were found assoc iated with rotting sea grass on the shore on Agatti island in the Lakshadwe ep group of islands.