Insect diversity on toxic candlenut (Reutealis trisperma) plantation in Bajawa, East Nusa Tenggara

Abstract

Abstract Toxic candlenut (Reutealis trisperma) is an important plantation commodity that serves as barrier to prevent erosion, as main material for bio-pesticides and as renewable source of biofuel production. It has been studied that toxic candlenut development in post-mining field can restore soil structure while also influencing environment surrounding, including insects. The study examined insect diversity in the R. trisperma plantation aged ±7 years in Bajawa field, East Nusa Tenggara from July 2018 until February 2019. Insect were collected by installed malaise traps, yellow traps, and pitfall traps in 5 different plots A, B, C, D, and E for 24 hours. Collected insects were then identified in the laboratory using identification book. The results showed there were 13 orders of insects were collected by traps. The diversity index (H’) of insect in the area were 4.053; 3.305; 3.521; 2.973 and 2.611 while the Evenness index (E) of insect were 0.872; 0.836; 0.780; 0.665 and 0.614 respectively. Insect diversity in the Bajawa plantation was high and the dominan individual was Hymenopteran and Dipteran. Several insects were in R. trisperma plant, as herbivores, predators, parasitoids, and pollinators. Further research is needed to determine each family of insect’s role in the R. trisperma plantation.