Insects Associated with Sesame (Sesamun indicum L.) and the Impact of Insect Pollinators on Crop Production

A survey of insects associated with sesame, Sesamun indicum L. (Pedaliaceae) was conductedat the Agriculture Research Farm of The Faculty of Agriculture, University of SuezCanal during the growing seasons 2010 and 2011. All different insect species found on theexperimental site were collected for identification. Sampling was done once a week andthree times a day. Three methods were used to collect insects from the sesame plants (asweep net, pitfall traps, digital camera and eye observation). A total of 31 insect specieswere collected and properly identified during the survey. Insects recorded on the plantswere divided into four groups, true pollinators (Hymenoptera), other pollinators (Diptera,Coleoptera and Lepidoptera), pests (Orthoptera, Odonata, Hemiptera and Homoptera) andnatural enemies (Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera and Dictyoptera).For studying the impact of insect pollination on sesame production, the experimentwas divided in two: opened and non-opened pollination of sesame. 50 plants from nonopenedpollination were covered with a perforated paper bag to allow the air to passthrough and to prevent insects from approaching the plants. Quantitative and qualitativeparameters were measured as follows: pod weight, number of seeds in each pod, weightof 1000 seeds, germination (%), seedlings vigour and oil content (%). Results clearly demonstratethat the opened pollination improved the crop production.