Impact of Ecological Engineering on Zea mays Plantations to Biodiversity of Insect Pollinators

Abstract

AbstractThe presence of pollinating insects has faced extreme challenges due to climate change, pesticides and land use transformation. An important factor that causes a decrease in diversity and abundance of pollinator insects is habitat loss. Ecological engineering can provide a source of food and restore the habitat of pollinator insects. This study aims to analyze the effect of ecological engineering onZea maysplantation to the biodiversity of pollinator insects. The research was carried out in April – September 2022 in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. Ecological engineering was carried out by planting nine different types of plants, which areMangifera indica, Muntingia calabura, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Cosmossp.,Turnera sp., Helianthussp.,Vignasp.,Arachis pintoi, andAntigononsp. Observations of pollinator insects are carried out every two weeks from 07.00 – 11.00 a.m. Overall, 32 spp of flower-visiting insects were found associated with the flowering plants. The species found were from Hymenoptera (92.3%), Diptera (4.6%), Lepidoptera (1.3%), Coleoptera (0.7%), Thysanoptera (0.7%) and Orthoptera (0.4%).