Insects are important features of urban ecosystems. This study examines insect diversity and abundance in vacant lots and community gardens in Cleveland, Ohio, with particular focus on hymenopterans. Initial assessment of each site was completed to assess the following variables: site area and perimeter, approximate distance to adjacent green space, garden vs. no garden, and vegetation height complexity. Insects were collected using beat nets and yellow pan traps. Beat net samples were taken to provide a broad view of insect diversity and abundance at each site. These samples were then identified to order and counted. Yellow pan traps were used to sample hymenoptera. These samples are then pinned, identified to morphospecies and counted.
Results/Conclusions
From the beat net samples a total of fifteen arthropod orders were identified. The most numerous of these were Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera. Analysis of the beat net samples indicates a higher overall diversity and a higher average abundance at the vacant sites. For both vacant and garden sites average abundance decreased with increasing site size. Garden sites were found to have a higher percentage (relative to the total) of Coleoptera and Hemiptera than vacant sites, while vacant sites showed higher values for Diptera and Hymenoptera. Analysis of pan trap samples is in progress.