Survey of insect resources at the Xishan Forest Unit, Beijing
Author of the article:WANG Xue, ZHENG Xing, LIU Ran, WANG Min-Zeng, ZHAO Ya-Zhou
Author's Workplace：State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; Beijing Xishan Experiment Forest Unit, Beijing 100083, China
Key Words：Beijing; insects; spatial and temporal distribution; taxonomic identification; diversity analysis
Abstract：
[Objectives] To evaluate the current status and spatiotemporal distribution patterns of insect resources in Beijing through the establishment of long-term monitoring sites, and thereby provide the necessary baseline data for the conservation of beneficial insects and the control of insect pests. [Methods] Two monitoring sites at different altitudes were established in the Xishan Experimental Forestry Range in 2020 and 2021, where long-term insect monitoring was carried out from March to October of these years using the Malaise net collection method. [Results] A total of 11 619 insects were collected, which were classified into 139 species, 68 families and 9 orders. The Diptera were the most common order, accounting for 50.74% of all specimens captured; 48 species and 19 families. In terms of families, flies, moths and bees were the most abundant. The least common families belonged to the Lepidoptera and Hemiptera. Significantly more individual insects and species were captured at the hilltop sampling site than at the hillside site, and the species and numbers of insects captured at each monitoring site remained generally stable over the 2-year monitoring period. However, significantly more individual insects and species were captured in summer than in spring and autumn, indicating that insect abundance was strongly correlated with both altitude and season. [Conclusion] Survey data collected over two consecutive years indicates that insects are both abundant and diverse at the Beijing Xishan Forestry Unit, and that their distribution is strongly correlated with altitude and season. These data reveal the population dynamics of local insects in real time and thereby provide essential baseline information for the protection, or control, of specific species.