A SURVEY OF AQUATIC INSECTS AT KWARE LAKE IN SOKOTO STATE
Yahaya, M. M., Ahmed, J. M. and Bello, K.
Keywords: survey, aquatic insects, density, abundance, lake
Published in Volume 7
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Abstract:
A survey was conducted to determine the diversity and abundance of aquatic insects in Kware Lake,
Kware local government area of Sokoto State from October to December, 2003. During these months,
aquatic insects are associated mostly with permanent water bodies in Sokoto. Samples were obtained
twice a week from the lake which was proportioned into three units, A,B and C. Morphological
observations of the insect caught were carried out in the laboratory and five different species were
identified viz, Calopteryx aequabilis (Say.) (damselfly), Haliplus solitarus (Sharp) (water beetle),
Cordulegaster boltonii (Don.) (dragonfly), Libelullar quadrimaculata (Linn.) (dragonfly) and Coenagrion
angulata (Hagen) (damselfly). The results indicated that dragonfly C. boltonii had the highest
abundance with density of 45.0% while the water beetle; H. solitarus recorded the lowest abundance with
density of 5.7%. Significant differences (P<0.05) in the mean count of the insect caught also exist
among the species in the sampling units, which may be due to some environmental conditions like the
vegetation covers or competitive exclusion might have set in.