Insect Diversity in an Organic Rice Farm in Brgy. Langkong, M’lang, North Cotabato, Philippines

Abstract

Understanding the diversity of insects associated with rice cultivation can provide information about the composition and structure of such ecosystems, which can be applied to integrated pest management. The study identified and classified beneficial and harmful insects and determined the species richness, species evenness, and diversity in an organic rice field in Barangay Langkong, M’lang, North Cotabato, Philippines. Sweep net and light traps were used in collecting insects. Insects were identified morphologically up to the nearest possible taxa. It was found that among the 3,796 insects collected, 2,659 were identified as harmful and 1,137 as beneficial. The species richness in the area is 2.35, and the species evenness has a value of 0.737. Based on Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index, the study area is high in species diversity since the value of the species diversity is 2.21.