Abstract
Abstract. Abundance of insect fauna associated with Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. in small-holder farm conditions, in terms of field complexity was studied. Agroecology theory suggests that natural fence rows reinforce good microclimatic conditions in a crop field, and provide food and cover for wildlife that could benefit the crop. However, organisms respond differently to the presence of an edge which could be positive or negative, and the response is driven by the form of the edge. In total, 1,621 specimens were collected in the insect orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera, the suborders Heteroptera, Homoptera, superfamily Mantodea, family Aleyrodidae, and class Arachnida. Results revealed that even when abundance of Heteroptera and Homoptera differ between sample areas of living fences, no fences, and natural vegetation, overall abundance was not related with field complexity. Response of arthropods to the presence of a natural living fence was neutral. However, ...
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