Diversity of phasmid (Order: Phasmatodea) at Hutan Lipur Bukit Bakar, Machang, Kelantan

Hutan Lipur Bukit Bakar is located in Machang, Kelantan and the forest is one of the Permanent Reserved Forest (PRF) in Peninsular Malaysia. The diversity of phasmid was studied at three sampling point of Hutan Lipur Bukit Bakar, Machang, Kelantan. The study was carried out for 21 days in Hutan Lipur Bukit Bakar from July to August started from 0900 to 1700 hours using sweep net at Trail 1, 2 and 3. Then at night, light trap was been set up at 1900 to 0200 hours at the same sampling point as in a day. A total of 10 species from three families with 28 individuals were recorded. The overall value of Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’) for the phasmid was high at Trail 2 with the value of 1.64. The most dominant species at Hutan Lipur Bukit Bakar is Abrosoma johorensis with nine individuals from family Aschiphasmatidae. Abrosoma johorensis and Abrosoma xiuyuae from family Aschiphasmatidae are the most abundant species of phasmid at Trail 1. Meanwhile, the most abundant species at Trail 2 are A. johorensis (Family: Aschiphasmatidae) and Ramulus nematodes (Family: Phasmatidae). Next, the abundance of species at Trail 3 is recorded one individual per one species. Family Aschiphasmatidae was the most abundant family with 13 individuals from the Trail 1, 2 and 3. The overall value of Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H’) indicates the value of 1.80 which is considered fairly diverse meanwhile the Pielou’s Evennes Index (J’) is 0.78 which almost reached complete evenness in species distribution. For further research in the future, different time of duration in sampling the diversity of phasmid at Hutan Lipur Bukir Bakar can be applied in order to gain more different variety of species at the study area.