Abstract: An investigation was made on the insect community composition and stru
cture in a Zanthoxylum bungeanum garden with corn-soybean-Z. bungeanum
 intercropping, soybean-Z. bungeanum intercropping, corn-Z. bungeanum
intercropping, and only Z. bungeanum planting in Zhaotong City of Yunnan Pro
vince, and the community character index and principal component analysis were u
sed to study the characters and stability of the insect community. A total of 32
6 insect species were recorded. In intercropped plots, the abundance, diversity,
 and evenness index of insect community were higher while the dominance index
was lower, compared with those in mono-cultured Z. bungeanum plot. The dive
rsity index of insect community decreased in the order of corn-soybean-Z. bu
ngeanum intercropping > soybean-Z. bungeanum intercropping > corn-Z. b
ungeanum intercropping > only Z. bungeanum planting, and the insect commun
ity in corn-soybean-Z. bungeanum intercropping plot was relatively stable.

Key words: Zanthoxylum bungeanum, insect community, biodiversity, planting pattern, principal component analysis, Chongming Island, riparian zone, land use type, denitrifying enzyme activity.