Abstract

GHIGLIONE, Carla et al. Roadside margins as biodiversity reservoirs: the ecosystem role of insects. Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. [online]. 2024, vol.83, n.1, pp.31-42.  Epub Feb 25, 2024. ISSN 0373-5680.

The roadside margins that contain natural vegetation provides biological stable conditions and promote biodiversity. These areas are important to enhance ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. The aims of this study were i) to assess the diversity of insects as floral visitors (excluding apiformes), and plant species richness in roadside margins, ii) to determine the Functional Groups of insects recorded as floral visitors of roadside margins, and iii) to analyze the ecological role of insects presents in eight roadside margins located in the central-eastern region of the Santa Fe province. The study was conducted along four provincial roads (No. 6, 10, 62, and 64) and the national road No. 19, on November 2013 to September 2015. A total of 1614 insects were recorded. Oxysarcodexia varia (Walker) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Allograpta exotica (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Syrphidae) and Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), were the most abundant species. The families Brassicaceae, Apiaceae, and Asteraceae received the highest number of insect visits. A total of 225 plant-insect interactions were recorded. The importance of roadside margin with natural vegetation to provide food and shelters for pollinators, predators, parasitoids, herbivores, and decomposers insects is discussed.

Keywords : Diversity; Functional groups; Floral visitors; Trophic interactions.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )