~ 790 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2020; 8(5): 790-794 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 www.entomoljournal.com JEZS 2020; 8(5): 790-794 © 2020 JEZS Received: 30-06-2020 Accepted: 28-08-2020 Bhausaheb V Naikwadi Department of Agricultural Entomology, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra, India Samadhan Javalage Department of Agricultural Entomology, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra, India Corresponding Author: Bhausaheb V Naikwadi Department of Agricultural Entomology, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra, India Study of spatial distribution of important predatory fauna found in Kharif agro-ecosystem from the region, Akola, Maharashtra, India Bhausaheb V Naikwadi and Samadhan Javalage Abstract Information on the spatial distribution of predatory fauna found in kharif crop agro-ecosystem in relatively little is known. Spatial distribution of major predatory fauna found, viz. Lady bird beetle, Stink bug, Green lace wing / Mallada, Earwigs, Syrphid fly, Preying Mantid, Assassin Bug, Robber fly, Hoverfly, Tiger Beetle, Dragonfly/ Damsel fly, Spider species were studied on various kharif crop agro- ecosystems during kharif, 2010 in Akola district of Maharashtra, India. During study period total 154 specimens of predatory fauna associated with various important pests collected from various Kharif crops agro-ecosystem. This study shows that the kharif crop agro-ecosystem to attract more number of natural enemies. These natural enemies consisted of different 9 orders: Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, Arachnida, Hymenoptera, Dermaptera, Mantodea and Neuroptera are divided into 14 families. 6 families demonstrated the significance of spatial distribution patterns. Lady bird beetle, stink bug and spiders were recorded on all the kharif crops. Both lady bird beetle and predatory spiders were found in these six talukas of the Akola district. The results of this study indicate that both lady bird beetle and spiders have a wide range of host pests and vertical distribution from low land to high land. Information on spatial distribution of predatory fauna would be helpful in ensuring better management decision. Keywords: Agro-ecosystem, fauna, Kharif, predatory, spatial Introduction Kharif crop play a key role in agriculture as well as basic resource for thousand of industrial products manufactured in India and play crucial role in national economy in both rural and urban sector. It provides raw material to industry and contributed one third of total foreign exchange of India (Mayee and Rao, 2002) [12] . Kharif crop consist of mainly cotton, pigeon pea, mung bean, soybean, urdbean, jowar, bajara, cowpea, sunflower etc. Production of kharif in India is 140.20 million tonnes (Anonymous, 2018) [1] . In kharif crops various biotic and a biotic factors play crucial role in low production in which insect pest attack is a major limiting factors. Worldwide food plants are damaged by more than 10,000 species of insects (Dhaliwal et al., 2007) [5] . Despite using various control methods the control of agriculture pests continues to be critical for farmers. The yield loss by insects reaches as high as 60-70%. Therefore for reducing damage in terms of yield use of biocontrol methods for manageging pests in kharif crop agro-ecosystem is necessary. Earlylier period before 50’s many kharif pests under natural control; however, many crop varieties grown were tolerant to insect pests and suitable cultural practices were adopted for preventing the flare up of pest population therefore use of pesticide less to manage insect pests in kharif crops. In the 50’s use of synthetic pesticide done prominently and age of environment friendly practices were considered as low priority. Therefore, due to more usage of insecticides in kharif crops agro-ecosystem its accounts for about 50 per cent of total production cost. To avoid these losses there was need to adoption of IPM strategy, because of frequent failure of chemical control therefore biological control seems to have alternative to chemical control. Previous workers (Das and Veda, 2005) [3] stated the importance of biological control in regarding the reduction of cost of cultivation and of different pest control measures including IPM strategy. In India biological control was successfully conducted in various crop ecosystems to manage pests in effectively manner before this study. Previous study data of (Pokharkar, 2010) [18] stated that papaya mealy bug Paracoccus marginatus Williams, was successfully control by using Acerophagus papayae Noves in Pune region of Maharashtra state.