Beneficial insects play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem function and biodiversity. The current research investigates the abundance and diversity of key beneficial insect groups, such as pollinators, predators and parasitoids, across four distinct regions in Germany (Hesse, Brandenburg, Baden Wurttemberg, Saxony). Each region represents different landscape structures and farming intensities.
This research is conducted within the framework of KOMBI project, which is a broad initiative in Germany that promotes biodiversity-oriented agriculture by integrating ecological principles into farming systems. The project aims to identify and implement agro-environmental schemes (AES) that enhance biodiversity, ecosystem services, and landscape resilience, while ensuring long-term agricultural productivity. By analyzing insect abundance in different landscapes like orchards, vineyards, fallow strips etc., this study aims to observe how cooperative implementation of agro-environmental schemes (AES) and landscape variation influences biodiversity.
In each region, six grid areas have been established, each containing nine sampling sites plus one external reference site. Insect sampling is carried out using malaise and pitfall traps, which are deployed in the field for two weeks. After collection, the samples are washed and preserved in ethanol for long-term conservation and analysis in the laboratory.
The main focus is on key groups of beneficial insects, including parasitoid wasps (Ichneumonidae, Hymenoptera: Parasitica), bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae), hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae), and ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). These groups play essential roles in biological pest control, pollination, and soil ecosystem functioning.