Species Diversity of Edible Insects in Community Forests (Plant Genetic Conservation Project) in Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

Survey and collection of edible insects from community forests, Amphoe Ban Fang and Amphoe Munja Kiri, Khon Kaen Province, were conducted for the exploitation by walking observation and using light trap (May 2013 – April 2014). In Amphoe Ban Fang, result from walking observation showed 37 species in 7 Ordersof edible insects with the highest speciesnumbers from Coleoptera (45.95%) followed by Orthoptera (27.03%), Hemiptera (13.51%), Hymenoptera (5.41%), Homoptera (2.70%), Lepidoptera (2.70%) and Neuroptera (2.70%). For Amphope Munja Kiri, 25 species of edible insects from 5 Orders; Coleoptera (52%), Orthoptera (28%), Hemiptera (8%), Hymenoptera (8%) and Homoptera (4%) were recorded. Besides, the diversity index (Shannon–Wiener index) and Shannon evenness were studied. From Amphoe Ban Fang Coleoptera exhibited the highest diversity index of 1.7705. And Hemiptera, Orthoptera and Hymenoptera had indexs of 1.4019, 1.3529 and 0.1949, respectively. Whereas, Amphope Munja Kiri showed that Orthopteran insects had maximum diversity index of 1.1802, the latter values wereColeoptera (1.0884) and Hemiptera (0.5623), respectively. In addition, the total result of the diversity index together with Shannon evenness revealed that Ban Fang (2.4847 and 0.6831, respectively) were higher than of Munja Kiri (1.7590 and 0.5465, respectively). In the case of house cricket (Gryllustestaceus Walker), a representative of edible insects from both locations, was studied on growth and life cycle by rearing under nearly natural conditions (Ø= 30.57 °C, R.H. Ø 79.58%). The house cricket developed in 3 stages; egg, nymph and adult which lasted 92–111 days.