Parasitoid hymenoptera community in cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) intercropping systems

Abstract

Intercropping systems, an ecological engineering strategy, have the potential to increase the abundance of parasitoid Hymenoptera in agroecosystems. This study aimed to analyze the diversity, relative abundance, and composition of parasitoid Hymenoptera in different intercropping systems of cayenne pepper and peanuts, based on differences in the peanut plant composition. The study was conducted using a randomized block design (RBD) with four treatments and five replicates. Sampling was performed using yellow pan traps and pitfall traps. Data were analyzed using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H'), evenness (E), dominance (D), and species richness (R). The results show that the parasitoid Hymenoptera community consisted of 79 individuals belonging to 12 families and 29 morphospecies. The highest relative abundance was found in Trichopria spp. (24 individuals; 30.37%). The Diapriidae family was the most abundant, with 33 individuals (41.77%). The TS2 treatment (ratio 1:3) resulted in the highest diversity (H' = 2.36) and species richness (R = 4.84). However, ANOVA indicated that neither parasitoid abundance (F3,12 = 2.599; P > 0.05) nor morphospecies richness (F3,12 = 3.207; P > 0.05) differed significantly among treatments. These findings suggest that cayenne pepper–peanut intercropping may support parasitoid communities, although the effects of different peanut proportions require further investigation under broader ecological conditions.