Insect Diversity at the Forest Margin-Rice Field Interface:Indicator for a Healthy Ecosystem

Abstract

This research was conducted in Gunung Halimun National Park, West Java. The influence of forest habitat toward insect diversity in rice field was shown. Samplings of insect species were done using pitfall trap, farmcop, malaise trap, and light trap. Altogether, there were 14 352 individual insects collected, which consist of 16 orders, 110 families, and 435 species. Based on analysis of their functional role, the insect complexes consist of 37.2% herbivores, 21.4% predators, 12.2% parasitoids, 6.2% detritivores, and 23.0% transient spesies. Our data further suggested that Chironomidae are dominating spesies on the rice field. Some of the transient spesies could potentially be used as indicator for healthy ecosystem. These are the Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, Carabidae and Formicidae in rice field. Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera are bioindicators for water habitat whereas Carabidae and Formicidae for soil habitat.