Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Yaw-Jen Dong、Pei-Chen Hsu*、Chi-Feng Lee、Mei-Jung Tseng、Hsien-Tzung Shih

Abstract:

This study investigated the diversity and temporal stability of lady beetle communities under different farming practices in indigenous agricultural systems of Hualien, eastern Taiwan. From 2022 to 2024, surveys were conducted in organically and conventionally managed rice paddies and pomelo orchards using yellow sticky traps. A total of 29 species were recorded in rice fields and 31 in orchards. Organic management, particularly in perennial pomelo orchards, significantly enhanced lady beetle abundance, species richness, and population stability. In orchards, Scymnus yangi Yu et Pang, 1993, and Sasajiscymnus tainanensis (Ohta, 1929) were the most dominant species under organic
management, while in rice fields, Micraspis discolor (Fabricius, 1798) showed higher abundance and stability in organic plots. These results suggest that organic practices can promote beneficial insect populations in indigenous farmlands, especially in orchard systems. The findings provide baseline data for the development of biological control strategies and may inform eco-label certification schemes that incorporate native predatory lady beetles as bioindicators in sustainable agriculture.

Key words:Indigenous farmlands, Organic farming, Conventional farming, Predatory lady beetles, Biodiversity, Stability

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