Insect Conservation Research Articles

Radio telemetry helps record the dispersal patterns of birdwing butterflies in mountainous habitats: Golden Birdwing (Troides aeacus) as an example

Birdwing butterflies are a monophyletic group of swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae) protected by national and international laws and often serve as flagships of insect conservation. Selecting the Golden Birdwing (Troides aeacus) as an example, we demonstrate an effective way to simultaneously record the activity of multiple birdwing butterflies using radio telemetry in hard-to-access mountainous terrain. During the summer flight period of T. aeacus (June and July), a single researcher was able to obtain 30-min records of movement patterns for ten individuals for an average of 4 days by fastening 0.22 g transmitters onto the butterflies, in the mountainous valleys of Mt. Gongga, China. The maximum distance the butterflies traveled over the 4 day period was 4314 m away from the starting location. During this time, the average dispersal rate was 38.07 m/h (n = 9, sd = 85.11); average movement speed was 293.48 m/h (n = 9, sd = 121.45). Flight patterns of butterflies collected from low and high elevation habitats showed no significant differences. Activity levels of individuals from both low and high elevation habitats track diurnal fluctuation in temperature. Flight activity is positively correlated with temperature and negatively correlated with humidity. Our data provide basic parameters of real-time flight activity and dispersal ability for a species of conservation importance. The methodology is highly suitable for monitoring endangered lepidopteran species in otherwise difficult-to-access terrain.

Protecting insects around the world

Conservation Reports of plummeting insect biomass and threats to insect pollinators have prompted urgent calls for enhanced insect conservation efforts. In a Perspective, Basset and Lamarre outline some of the key steps that need to be taken to protect insect populations. Scientific knowledge needs to be enhanced by performing continuous monitoring studies to inform conservation efforts, especially in the tropics, where knowledge is very limited. Mitigating climate change, reducing pesticide use, and halting habitat loss and fragmentation will also be crucial. Last but not least, engaging the public will help to increase interest in protecting insects beyond iconic species such as bees and butterflies. Science , this issue p. [1230][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aaw7071

Identifying priority sites for insect conservation in forest ecosystems at high resolution: the potential of LiDAR data

Focusing conservation efforts on priority areas is crucial for maximizing the effects of the limited available resources. Unfortunately, there is often a conflict between the optimal spatial scale for conservation measures and data available for planning. We tested the potential contribution of LiDAR data in providing high-resolution environmental predictors for conservation planning. We used detailed samples of ground beetles communities and high-resolution environmental data (i.e. land morphology, forest structure, and water availability) for modeling the habitat suitability for each species. All the specific models were combined to define priority areas for the conservation of carabids at the local level and to clarify the effect of each environmental feature on the forest suitability for ground beetles. The highest levels of suitability were obtained in less steep and north facing zones and in those where trees are taller, total volume of trees is larger, and tree density is lower. These parameters should be taken into account in sustainable forest management options aimed to preserve carabid communities. Moreover, our approach allowed to find exactly where, within the considered forest stands, the adoption of these measures would be particularly efficient. Our study is a demonstrative case that can be adapted to different taxa and different areas for improving the efficacy of forest management and of biodiversity conservation initiatives.

Dynamics of predatory and herbivorous insects at the farm scale: the role of cropped and noncropped habitats

AbstractNatural enemy conservation is known to be affected by ecological processes that range from local to landscape scales. At the farm scale, there are cropped and noncropped areas that differ in their management and plant diversity; these differences affect the spatiotemporal dynamics of natural enemies. We investigated how different habitat types can affect the conservation and spatial dynamics of predatory and herbivore insects in organic vegetable crops in Brazil. Insects were simultaneously sampled in two cropped (focal and neighbourhood crops) and two noncropped habitats (fallow and native forests) during five consecutive focal crop cycles. We found a higher species richness of predators and herbivores in noncropped habitats. All of the habitats shared species from both functional groups throughout the year, indicating that species could disperse among habitats. Fallow areas can serve as a source and sink for species migrating to/from cropped habitats where predators and herbivores can numerically increase their populations during the crop cycles. The spatiotemporal dynamics of herbivores and predators depend on the management and maintenance of natural, seminatural and cropped habitats within the farm.

The aggregation-sex pheromones of the cerambycid beetles Anaglyptus mysticus and Xylotrechus antilope ssp. antilope: new model species for insect conservation through pheromone-based monitoring

We studied the pheromone chemistry of the cerambycids Anaglyptus mysticus and Xylotrechus antilope ssp. antilope with the goal of identifying attractants that could be used as tools for pheromone-based monitoring of these two species, which are rare and red-listed in parts of northern Europe. Beetles were reared from naturally colonized branches of hazel (Corylus avellana) or oak (Quercus robur), respectively, and used for headspace sampling. The extracts of volatiles were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Males of A. mysticus consistently produced large quantities of (R)-3-hydroxy-2-hexanone and 2-nonanone, minor amounts of 2,3-hexanedione, and trace amounts of six other compounds. The average proportion of 2-nonanone to (R)-3-hydroxy-2-hexanone was 70:100. Males of X. antilope produced large quantities of (S)-2-hydroxy-3-octanone, and minor quantities of 2,3-octanedione. None of these compounds were present in the corresponding extracts of females from either species. The attractiveness of the dominant compounds produced by each species was determined in field bioassays. Lures with racemic 3-hydroxy-2-hexanone and 2-nonanone as single compounds were not attractive to A. mysticus. However, the compounds acted synergistically in blends of 100:100 and 160:100 of 2-nonanone to the hydroxyketone’s (R)-enantiomer, but not in a 40:100 blend. Similarly (S)-2-hydroxy-3-octanone and its racemate attracted significantly more X. antilope than controls. Males and females of both species were captured in approximately equal numbers. The aggregation-sex pheromones of A. mysticus and X.antilope have high potential to serve as sensitive and efficient tools for detection and monitoring of local populations, and in studies of the species’ ecology and conservation requirements.

Living room conservation: a virtual way to engage participants in insect conservation

Through interactive gaming, virtual reality applied to butterfly and forest conservation activities can reach a broad audience and initiate a paradigm shift towards coexistence between humans and butterflies under urban settings. Butterfly World 1.0 is a serious game designed to teach players about butterflies and plants in dry forest ecosystems in the Florida Keys (USA). Tasks include butterfly and plant identification and the removal of an invasive ant species. The immersive virtual environment allows players to explore the forest without swarms of mosquitoes and oppressive heat present in the real environment. Rethinking a different way of communicating butterfly conservation and environmental stewardship through gaming, we can reach many who might otherwise remain untouched by traditional education routes. Virtual gaming, designed to educate the player through meaningful tasks and measurable outcomes, presents another avenue for direct knowledge acquisition and passive empathy through direct experiences.

The Effect of Liquid Organic Fertilizers in The Refugia Block on Visiting Insects in The Apple Orchard and Community Knowledges in its Conservation Efforts

This study aims to determine community structure and composition of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) against visiting insects in block Refuge and to determine the public perception of the block Refuge and insect’s conservation. Analysis of insects data are obtained from the important of index value, diversity ( index’s Shannon Wienner ). Insect abundance spring that treatment total 298 individuals and control 168 individuals. Insect abundance spring that treatment total 262 individuals and control 116 individuals. Insect diversity during flowering season given treatment was 2,11 andcontrol 1,49. Diversity during fruiting season was similar, given treatment it was 1,87 and control 1,42. Abundance of insect on both seasons with treatments and control had a significance of P=0,004. Similarities between insects on flowering season treatments between fruiting season treatments between organic fertilizers of different seasons 0,94 and control 0,80. Analysis on abiotic factors correlated with insect abundance with R-square value of 15%. Local perception towards refugia blocks was found to be low (46%) and medium (48%). Local perception towards convservation was found to be low (34%) and medium (63%). Local perception is affected by knowledge and non responsive actions towards insect conservation. Key words : Insect, Liquid Organic Fertilizer, Refugia

An entomocentric view of the Janzen–Connell hypothesis

In 1987, in the first issue of Conservation Biology, Edward O. Wilson wrote about the “little things that run the world” – the importance and conservation of insects (Wilson, 1987). Readers of Insect Conservation and Diversity will no doubt be very familiar with the concept. Sadly, however, this perception is not as widely shared among the rest of the scientific community as it should be, and insects are still comparatively neglected as a prime focus of scientific investigations.

Coloring Exercises for Insect Identification and Conservation Awareness

The Endangered Species Act in the United States of America currently protects more than 1,500 species, 74 of which are insects, including the american burying beetle (ABB) and the rusty patched bumble bee. Insects that are experiencing population declines, such as the monarch butterfly, are under consideration for protection. Awareness of biological diversity, the ability to recognize an endangered species, and understanding the conservation of beneficial insects can begin at an early age. We designed a coloring exercise to promote insect species awareness and introduced this activity to elementary and middle school students in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. We assessed students’ insect identification abilities by presenting a quiz on species diversity and ABB identification before and after the coloring exercise. Inspired by the quiz results, we created coloring templates for additional insect species, including the monarch butterfly, ladybird beetles, and bumble bees. These exercises will promote awareness of endangered species and improve science literacy in the classroom.

The importance of hidden diversity for insect conservation: a case study in hoverflies (the Merodon atratus complex, Syrphidae, Diptera)

Cryptic species represent a large component of hidden biodiversity. Some cryptic taxa require specific climate and habitat conditions and have limited dispersal abilities. In order to assess the importance of cryptic species and to minimize future loss of biodiversity, we modelled the current and future distribution of the Merodon atratus (Oldenberg, 1919) species complex, once thought to be a single species, and compared it with species distribution models for each of the three cryptic species within the complex (M. atratus, M. balkanicus Sasic, Acanski et Vujic, 2016, M. virgatus Vujic et Radenkovic, 2016). Additionally, we compared environmental niche models for each cryptic species. We then tested the capability of nationally designated protected areas to encompass the species complex and each cryptic species of the complex. We conclude that although cryptic species of the M. atratus complex exhibit high levels of morphological similarity, they will respond differently to global climate change, requiring tailored particular conservation strategies. Overall, the species complex will drastically decrease its range and retreat to the Alps. More specifically, each cryptic species requires specific environmental conditions and will react differently to climate change. These results contribute to the establishment of a conservation status for these newly discovered species and their conservation management, particularly for M. balkanicus that is projected to go extinct due to global warming.

Models of Parkinson's Disease with Special Emphasis on Drosophila melanogaster.

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting more than 1% of the population averaged 60 years of age. The majority of PD cases are sporadic and are probably caused by a combination of risk factors but 5-10% of the PD cases are familial. Due to the high degree of the gene, conservation in humans, mice and insects using an animal model system is a valuable approach to further elucidate the roles of the genes in PD. The present review highlights the models used to study PD symptoms with special emphasis on Drosophila.

Wallace’s Giant Bee for sale: implications for trade regulation and conservation

The recent rediscovery of what is perhaps the most iconic and the world’s largest wild bee species, endemic from just a handful islands in Indonesia, represents a major finding and opens up new avenues for conservation research on this species thought to be extinct. But there is one twist in this otherwise positive insect conservation tale: two female specimens of Megachile pluto collected on Bacan (Indonesia) in February and on Halmahera (Indonesia) in September 2018 (respectively) appeared on an international online auction site, and fetched several thousands of US$ each to private collectors. These online sales marks a new chapter in bee conservation, and will likely present important new policy and scientific challenges to protect this species from extinction. Indeed, while Wallace’s Giant Bee is currently red listed according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the international trade of this species is currently not restricted as it does not appear on the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Wider implications are discussed to highlight how the case study of Wallace’s Giant Bee also applies to other threatened insect species subject to international trade, and how conservation actions should be developed.

The social fabric of citizen science\u2014drivers for long-term engagement in the German butterfly monitoring scheme

Insect conservation needs sound information on species distribution trends. Developing this evidence relies—in practice—on long-term engagement of volunteers who observe and record species over large spatial and temporal scales. Many biodiversity monitoring schemes, including those for insects, are highly dependent on conservation-based citizen science programs with a long-term continuity. As these schemes are built entirely on good will, the nature of social relations and networks is pivotal to success. We assess the working mechanism of a monitoring scheme that is citizen-based as a case study. The German Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (hereafter TMD for “Tagfalter-Monitoring Deutschland”) operates, as many other citizen science monitoring schemes, through an overarching national network of regional subnetworks of volunteers and a central scientific coordination. Using a questionnaire survey paired with a visual social network assessment, we investigate how participants interact within these networks and assess their motivations to engage. We characterise the functionality of this social network based on mechanism of coordination and participation, flows of information and knowledge exchange among recorders, regional and central coordinators, academic scientists and institutions. By analyzing the interactions, we show how the social network facilitates and ensures various communication modes and thereby fosters long-term engagement, stability and growth of the scheme. We identify the central role of project coordination and the importance of social relations within citizen-based monitoring programs for engagement and personal satisfaction. Based on our empirical study, we derive a set of recommendations for establishing and maintaining successful volunteer networks in insect citizen-based monitoring programs.

Referees

Insect Conservation and DiversityVolume 11, Issue 6 p. 618-618 Referees Referees First published: 05 November 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12332Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume11, Issue6November 2018Pages 618-618 RelatedInformation

Keywords Index

Insect Conservation and DiversityVolume 11, Issue 6 p. 616-617 Keyword index Keywords Index First published: 05 November 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12331AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume11, Issue6November 2018Pages 616-617 RelatedInformation

Movement and Demography of At-Risk Butterflies: Building Blocks for Conservation.

The number of insect species at risk of population decline and extinction is increasing rapidly. Yet we know almost nothing about the ecology of these species, except for at-risk butterflies. A growing body of literature shows how butterfly vital rates, including demography and movement, are essential for guiding conservation and recovery. History has shown us that without these data, conservation decisions often weaken, rather than enhance, population viability. This is especially true in changing landscapes. We review knowledge of vital rates across all at-risk butterflies. We have information on movement for 17 of 283 butterfly species and information on demography for 19 species. We find that habitat-specific movement behavior is key to understanding how to connect populations, and habitat-specific demography is central to managing habitats. Methods and analyses worked out for butterflies can provide a scaffold around which to build studies for the conservation of other at-risk insects.

Patch occupancy of grassland specialists: Habitat quality matters more than habitat connectivity

Land-use change has caused degradation, loss and fragmentation of semi-natural habitats, especially in grassland ecosystems. Today, the remaining habitats are often situated in a matrix of intensively used agricultural land and are therefore more or less isolated from each other. Connectivity, area and quality of habitat patches have been identified as the most important drivers for the persistence of grassland specialists living in metapopulations. However, the relative importance of these factors is still under debate. We used a large-scale, multi-taxon approach to obtain a general pattern which would facilitate conservationists to promote many, instead of one, species. We studied the patch occupancy of 13 grassland specialists belonging to three different insect orders within a Central European landscape with 89 fragments of calcareous grasslands. To disentangle the relative importance of the three metapopulation parameters, generalized linear models (GLM) and variation-partitioning techniques were used. Our study revealed that habitat quality was the most important factor determining the occurrence of specialized species, followed by habitat area. In comparison to habitat connectivity, the variance explained by habitat quality was significantly higher across the studied species. Nevertheless, the persistence of at least six model organisms depended on the degree of habitat connectivity. We conclude that maintaining a high habitat quality on large patches should be the first choice for the conservation of habitat specialist insects in fragmented landscapes. As a secondary measure, conservationists should concentrate on the restoration of relict sites. This increases not only the habitat area, but also contributes to better habitat connectivity.

Insect conservation in Australia

Insect conservation in Australia

Strategic national approach for improving the conservation management of insects and allied invertebrates in Australia

AbstractDespite progress in recent decades, the conservation management of insects and allied invertebrates in Australia is challenging and remains a formidable task against a background of poor taxonomic and biological knowledge, limited resources (funds and scientific expertise) and a relatively low level of community engagement, education and awareness. In this review, we propose a new, strategic national approach for the conservation of insects and allied invertebrates in Australia to complement and build on existing actions and increase awareness with the general public and government. A review of all species listed under relevant State and Territory Acts, national legislation (EPBC Act) and on international lists (IUCN Red List) indicated that of the 285 species currently listed under these conservation schedules, 10 (3%) are considered extinct, 204 (72%) threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable) and 71 (25%) are classified as other (Threatened, Near Threatened, Rare or Least Concern). Comparison of the geographic ranges of listed species in relation to bioregions (IBRA regions) shows a striking discordance in spatial representation across the Australian landscape, reflecting an ad hoc approach to threatened species conservation and the concentration of invertebrate biologists in urban centres of temperate coastal Australia. There is a positive relationship between the number of threatened species and extent of protection according to the National Reserve System within each IBRA region, exemplifying the anomaly in spatial representativeness of listed species. To overcome these shortfalls, we propose a novel educational, regional approach based on selecting, for each of the 89 IBRA regions, a relatively small set of ‘flagship taxa’ (threatened species and/or ‘iconic’ species of high scientific/social value), which are then promoted and/or nominated for listing by the scientific community. Such species could be adopted by local community groups whereby a community‐based regional approach would ensure spatial representativeness of insect conservation across the entire Australian continent. This novel approach may ultimately provide a better strategy for the conservation management of habitats and threatened ecological communities, reducing extinction risk of threatened species and addressing key threatening processes. Members of the Australian entomological community are strongly encouraged to nominate candidate taxa as flagship species for wider promotion and/or listing nationally under the EPBC Act.

Important issues facing insect conservation in Australia: now and into the future

AbstractStudies of insect biodiversity and conservation in Australia have been severely limited by the many undescribed species and paucity of taxonomists and insect ecologists. In this review, I discuss important issues facing insect conservation, namely, key threatening processes, threats to habitats and ecological communities, the importance of maintaining insect interactions, the value of vegetation remnants in agricultural ecosystems and the importance of community participation, and provide recommendations for the conservation management of invertebrates and their habitats. Major threats to insect biodiversity continue from habitat loss through broadscale clearing of native vegetation, invasion by weeds, habitat fragmentation, loss of natural corridors and inappropriate fire regimes. Other threats include disturbance of plant communities on hilltops, creek embankments and in water courses, pesticide regimes, trampling and grazing by stock and feral animals, and exotic predators. Climate change affects those insects constrained by their thermal and moisture tolerances (climate envelopes), potentially influencing their distribution, development and reproduction, by disrupting diapause and aestivation or inducing torpor. Protected areas under State jurisdiction are at risk without Commonwealth protection and increasingly threatening those insects occurring only in national parks and other conservation areas. For effective conservation of mainland national parks, overarching national EPBC Act legislation is needed to protect parks for conservation of animal and plant diversity and natural landscapes. Retention of native vegetation as refuges for beneficial insects near farmlands is known to contribute to environmentally clean pest control. Information on conservation of beneficial insects and their dependence on native plants as habitats is needed by farmers to promote identification and protection of natural refuges for pollinators, parasitoids and predators and to support the case against indiscriminate tree clearing. Important community conservation activities are underway in several States and Territories, but to be effective, increased support and funding from appropriate agencies is required.