Ladybird communities structure in three Italian vineyards

Abstract

The knowledge of arthropods communities, their ecological structure and relationships are crucial for a correct management of agroecosystems, particularly in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Organic Management. The coccinellid community structure of three differently managed vineyards, two organic and one conventional, has been studied for two consecutive years. Ladybirds were sampled by using Malaise traps. Specimens collected were classified at species level. The Ladybirds communities structure has been analyzed at compositional and functional levels. The results obtained showed the presence of a high number of species all over the three vineyards (40 species in 2012 and 38 in 2013). Aphidophagous represented the main trophic guild. The communities of the three vineyards resulted well separated by the compositional and functional biodiversity analysis. The vineyards with herbaceous cover plants sustained a significant higher population of ladybirds than vineyards with a reduced herbaceous cover. Chemicals treatments produced a significant decreasing of coccinellid populations in the conventional vineyard. The study showed that a rich and diversified coccinellids population enhances the resilience of the agroecosystem vineyard, where the lost or reduction of a species was compensated with the arrival or a growth of other species.