Edaphic insect fauna associated with reforestation with Schizolobium parahyba Barneby in Amazonia

Abstract

Currently, little is known about the edaphic insect fauna associated withforest ecosystems with parica (Schizolobium parahyba var. Amazonicum) (Fabaceae) inthe Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. The species presents great economic value to the timbermarket; however, insects with potential damage to this crop have been identifi ed in periodicsurveys. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, in commercial plantations of differentages in the dry and rainy seasons, the abundance and dominance of major functional groupsof insects in forest ecosystems with parica. Collection was carried out using pitfall trapsexposed for 24 h. Insect identifi cation contemplated order and family. The results showedthat the number of insects was directly related to the precipitation regime, because the totaldensity of the insect fauna in the rainy season was 61% higher than in the dry season. Duringthe study period, 17,595 insects belonging to 11 orders and 37 families were captured. Theorder Hymenoptera was the most abundant in the dry season, representing 92.20% of theindividuals captured. The highest number of families (15) was found in the order Coleoptera.In the rainy season, the two and three year-old plantings showed greater richness of orders(9), but fewer families (22 and 21), respectively. Five-year-old plantings were the richestregarding families (26), mainly for being more stable environments. The most importantfunctional groups were herbivores, predators, and social insects.