In roses, the presence of insects varies with flower color, potentially affecting the species diversity, pest dynamics, and plant health. This study examined the variation in insect abundance across five differently colored roses—red, white, pink, pink-white, and yellow—grown in Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from July 2019 to April 2020. The sampling process involved periodic field surveys and systematic collection of insects from the flower petals, leaves, and stems, conducted weekly using manual collection techniques and insect nets, followed by species identification in the laboratory. A total of 2,530 insect individuals belonging to 29 species from 7 insect orders were recorded. The presence of insects varied significantly across flower colors, with white roses exhibiting the highest number of insects (32.5%), while red roses had the lowest (12.8%). Among the identified insect orders, Thysanoptera (thrips) were the most abundant, comprising 38.2% of all insect individuals, followed by Hemiptera and Lepidoptera. Additionally, the species diversity was highest in yellow roses, which hosted 15 of the 29 identified species, whereas pink-white roses had the lowest diversity, with only 9 species. Furthermore, sap-sucking insects such as aphids and thrips were significantly more prevalent on white and pink roses (54.3% combined), whereas Lepidoptera larvae were most frequently found on red roses, comprising 24.7% of all insect occurrences in roses of this color. This study is valuable, as it highlights how insect species vary across rose colors, helping farmers select varieties that attract fewer pests, potentially improving plant health. While the mechanisms remain unclear, these findings suggest that insect occurrence may be influenced by visual attraction, chemical cues, or plant traits. Further research could clarify how color impacts insect activity, leading to more effective, targeted pest management strategies and reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides in rose cultivation.
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Comparative study of Insect Presence Among Differently Colored Roses in Savar, Bangladesh
Published:
17 May 2025
by MDPI
in The 2nd International Electronic Conference on Entomology
session Biodiversity, Climate Change, Conservation, Ecology, and Evolution
Abstract:
Keywords: Rose; Insects; Diversity; Abundance; Bangladesh
