Abstract:
【Objective】 This study conducted a survey on ladybug community diversity in different habitats of the western Tianshan Mountains wild fruit forests in the Ili River Valley,Xinjiang.The aim was to provide fundamental data for biodiversity conservation in the western Tianshan Mountains wild fruit forests.
【Methods】 From May to August 2022-2023, a systematic survey was conducted in six counties and cities in the Ili River Valley (Huocheng County, Yining City, Yining County, Gongliu County, Xinyuan County, and Nilka County) across five habitats (mountain grassland, desert grassland, wetland, orchard, and woodland), totaling 90 sampling points.
【Results】 A combined method of sweep netting and hand collection was employed, yielding a total of 2,014 ladybugs belonging to 13 genera and 23 species.Results indicated significant variations in ladybug population and species composition among different regions,
Hippodamia variegata is the dominant species,with Gongliu County and Huocheng County having the highest ladybug populations, while Nilka County had the lowest.Ladybug Margalef richness index ranked from high to low as wetland > mountain grassland > desert grassland > orchard > woodland, with wetland having the highest index (2.891) and woodland the lowest (1.473).Diversity index
H' ranked from high to low as mountain grassland > wetland > desert grassland > orchard > woodland.Evenness index E ranked from high to low as desert grassland > woodland > orchard > mountain grassland > wetland.Additionally, there were differences in insect community similarity among different habitats.The similarity coefficient between desert grassland and orchard was the highest at 0.76, indicating moderate similarity.However, woodland's similarity with mountain grassland and wetland was below 0.5, indicating dissimilarity or extreme dissimilarity.
【Conclusion】 Insect species richness was higher in habitats like wetland and mountain grassland, serving as significant reservoirs for insect species.The corresponding insect community diversity index H was also higher, highlighting the habitat's crucial impact on ladybug diversity.