True bugs (Heteroptera) assemblage and diversity in the ecological infrastructures around the Mediterranean vineyards

One of the main tools in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is habitat management known as ecological infrastructure. Ecological infrastructures play an important role in enhancing biodiversity in perennial plantations such as vineyards. Moreover, elements of ecological infrastructure such as weeds and flowering plants enhance the population of beneficial insects, in particular, natural enemies of vineyard pests. The study was carried out during three consecutive years in three different models (extensive, integrated and organic) in Zadar county (Croatia). The main objective of this research was to assess the effects of three types of ecological infrastructures (weed margins, wildflower strips, and Mediterranean dry pastures) on true bugs (Heteroptera) composition and diversity. During the study period from May to October for three consecutive years (2010-2012), 4158 individuals belonging to 14 families, 30 genera and 58 species were recorded. Species richness and abundance were higher in both weedy margins and wildflower strips. The highest number of species was found in ecological infrastructures associated with integrated vineyard. Nysius graminicola graminicola (Kolenati) was considered as the dominant species within the whole study. The most abundant predators were Macrolophus melanotoma (Costa) and Orius niger (Wolff). Unlike Mediterranean dry pastures, the population of beneficial species was also more abundant and diverse in weedy margins and wildflower strips. Our results emphasize the need for maintaining ecological infrastructures in order to enhance the biodiversity of true bugs and overall arthropod biodiversity in vineyard landscapes. Moreover, weed margins and wildflower strips seem to have an influence on attracting and conserving the beneficial Heteroptera in agroecosystems. This results could help to improve conservative biological control as a part of IPM in vineyards.