Diversity analysis of insects of the thorn forest community at harappa archaeological site,Pakistan

The present study was conducted to compare the insect diversity of old groves and newly rehabilitated stands of thorn forest community at harappa archaeological site. a total of 2201 insects belonging to 136 insect species under 14 insect orders were collected from old groves while 1130 insects belonging to 76 insect species under 13 insect orders were collected from a restored site. different diversity parameters i.e.,shannon index,simpson index,hill diversity index and sorenson similarity index were used to explain the insect diversity at both the sites. results showed that only the insects belonging to orders coleoptera and dermaptera were significantly less in mean species number (p< 0.05) at the restored site while all other insect orders showed no significant difference in their mean species numbers between old groves and restored site. diversity of all the insect orders was significantly less (p< 0.01) at the restored site. termites (infraorder isoptera) as a group had the same diversity at both sites. cluster analysis explained the patterns of insect plant associations. after 12 years of restoration both the sites showed 72% similarity in the insect species composition but it is expected that with the increasing age of the plant community greater habitat and food resources will be available and this will enhance the diversity of insects on the restored site. copyright 2014 zoological society of pakistan.