Vertical stratification of night flying insects in lowland dipterocarp forest of Kubah National Park, Sarawak

The diversity and vertical stratification of night-flying insects were assessed in lowland dipterocarp forest of Kubah National Park. The light-trapping samples were collected from November 2013 until February 2014. Species composition of the total of 6178 individuals comprising of 261 species had been assigned into 78 families based on the morphometrics characteristics of the entomofauna collected. From the data encountered, Shannon Index for the ground level (H'= 3.056) exhibits higher diversity index compared to canopy level (H'=3.034). However, there was no significant different could be concluded on vertical distribution of entomofauna in mixed dipterocarp forest. Zar t-test had been performed in order to compare the diversity of entomofauna between ground and canopy layers. The results showed that there is no significant difference in diversity of entomofauna between both stratification (p>0.05). Lepidoptera performed the most diverse insects' taxon across the vertical gradient. The differences on moths' distribution are further discussed relating to their ecological characteristics and dietary preferences. Moristita-Horn Index was computed to test the similarities species composition of moths collected between ground and canopy layer. A large number of Morisita index which was 0.8 indicating the high similarities of moths between both ground and canopy level