Distribution and diversity of insects’ species in the Federal University Lokoja Zoo and Conservatory area Kogi State Nigeria

Abstract

 Insects are a vital part of the ecosystem, they aid in the production of fruits seeds, vegetables and flowers. They also serve as food for birds and fish. However, with increasing agricultural, industrial and human activities in the modification of the environment, their population and distribution could decline hence, the study which was aimed at investigating the insects' distribution and different species available in the study area the Federal University Lokoja Zoo and Conservatory, Kogi State Nigeria (Latitude 7⁰ 51′ 33″ N; Longitude 6⁰ 41′ 22″ E; Altitude 145m above sea level.). Insects were collected every other week from February to May 2024. Pitfall traps were set up, Yellow-pan traps were mounted in selected locations of the study area, Knock-down techniques were adopted for some species of insects, and a sweep net was also used, all as methods to effectively collect the insects. Identification of the collected insects were done using keys in the insectary of the Department of Zoology, Federal University Lokoja. Two hundred and thirteen (213) insects were encountered in total belonging to 33 species, 22 families, and 6 orders, were sampled from the study area. Analysed results using descriptive statistics showed that the most abundant group of insects in the study area were Coleoptera (38.03%), followed by Lepidoptera (21.13%), and Orthoptera (15.50%) while the least abundant was the Diptera (5.63%). The order Diptera was the most even (E = 0.8938), followed by Odonata (E = 0.8242) and Hymenoptera (E = 0.7252). The study revealed that Coleopterans were the most dominant and Lepidopterans were the most diverse. Finally, the study indicates that the Federal University Lokoja Zoo and Conservatory is rich in insects’ abundance and diversity. Each of the species exhibits differences in abundance and distribution and this is a useful information for planning of conservation measures. The richness of the insect’s species in the study area also indicates a beneficial contribution to habitat quality within the Zoo and environs.