Species Diversity of Predator ‎Bugs (Heteroptera) in Some ‎Sugar Beet Fields of Iran

Biodiversity and sustainable development are important goals in environmental protection that in order to have high biodiversity, it is necessary to identify and preserve ecosystems and all species of animals and plants as well as microorganisms in it. Predator bugs (Heteroptera) are efficient predators in most agroecosystems, which have powerful role for control of agricultural pests. These beneficial insects were evaluated under four categories a/ species diversity, b/ percentage of relative abundance and structure of species composition, c/ habitat similarity index, and d/ population fluctuation in sugar beet fields of six provinces (Isfahan, Hamadan, Golestan, Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari, West Azarbaijan and Khuzestan) during 2009-2013. In this research, in total of 24 species under six families, Anthocoridae (eight species, two genera), Geocoridae (three species, single genus), Miridae (three species, single genus), Nabidae (three species, single genus) and Reduviidae (seven species, seven genera) were collected and identified. Additionally, totally 216 specimens of predator bugs were collected from sugar beet fields, which Orius albidipennis, O. laevigatus and O. laticollis with 11.1%, 10.6% and 9.7% of percentage of relative abundance, respectively have the highest abundance among all the species and are dominant species. The highest habitat similarity was obtained between Myandoab (West Azarbaijan province) and Dezful (Khuzestan province) (57.1%). The maximum population density (3.92) was obtained in July.