Diversity And Ecological Associations Of Insect Fauna Of Koh E Moor Forest District Bajaur Ex Fata

Abstract

The present inquiry seeks to illuminate the diversity and ecological relationships of insect fauna with wild host plants in Bajaur District , Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The order Hemiptera showed the greatest diversity , with 7 genera among the families Cicadellidae and Delphacidae, followed by Coleoptera with 4 genera and Orthoptera with 2 genera. A total of 14 genera from 3 orders, 6 families, and 8 subfamilies were documented. The Cicadellidae (Deltocephalinae) was the most species-rich subfamily, comprising 5 genera , including Exitianus, Hishimonus, Chiasmus, Stirellus, and Aconurella. The attachment of hemipterans to plant hosts showed a strong preference for members of the families Poaceae and Cyperaceae, while coleopterans showed a preference for Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae, and Apocynaceae . Orthopterans such as Chortophaga and Poekilocerus were discovered mainly on Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae, and Apocynaceae . To confirm identification and ecological relationships , morphological diagnostics, species diversity , and detailed keys to genera were used. The study provides important baseline data for biodiversity assessment and conservation in arid ecosystems and highlights the importance of wild flora for the conservation of insect diversity. The results offer potential for ecological monitoring , biological control strategies, and further taxonomic research in understudied dry habitats.