Some Aspects of Habitat Ecology of Aquatic Entomofauna in two Freshwater Lakes of Kashmir Himalaya

The present investigation deals with the habitat ecology of lacustrine insects of Dal and Nilnag lakes of Kashmir valley in relation to the depth of water column and the quality and quantity of aquatic macrophytes. Three main categories of aquatic insects belonging to four different orders viz, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera and Odonata have been recognized. It has been seen that the quality of water, the diversity and density of aquatic vegetation and suitable substratum are among the favourable factors increasing the potential of aquatic insects to inhabit their suitable ecological niches.