Insect biodiversity in flowering teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) canopies: Comparison of wild and plantation stands

Insects were collected in the canopies of wild and plantation forests with Malaise traps and hand nets during the flowering season of teak (August–October 1998) in and near the Maegar Seed Orchard in Phayao province, Northern Thailand. A total of 10,404 individual insects were collected representing 693 morphospecies from 115 recognizable families and 11 orders. Of these 11 orders, Lepidoptera had the highest number of morphospecies (32%) followed by Hymenoptera (29%). Among 693 morphospecies, 620 (89.5%) were non-pollinators and 73 (10.5%) were potential pollinators. Canopies of wild teak had greater insect biodiversity than plantation; however, the number of potential insect pollinators in the plantation canopies was greater than the wild trees.The total number of morphospecies was 552 in the canopies of wild trees, 340 in the plantation canopies and 199 appeared in both habitats. Mean numbers of morphospecies per individual tree for canopies of wild and plantation trees were 280 and 150, respectively. Total number of individuals collected in the canopies of wild trees was 6948 and 3456 in the plantation canopies. Mean numbers of individuals per individual tree in the canopies of wild and plantation trees were 2316 and 1152, respectively. The mean alpha diversity indices per individual tree in the canopies of wild and plantation trees were 84 and 49, respectively.