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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Bioassays for Monitoring Insecticide Resistance
Published on: December 30, 2010
DNA metabarcoding-based monitoring of insect biodiversity across agricultural ecosystems in China
Bingyan Li1,2, Endong Wang1,2, Darren Ward3,4
1State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Background:
Evaluating species diversity in agricultural ecosystems provides insights into the composition and interactions of natural enemies and their pests, which is essential for effective pest management. In this study, we utilize DNA metabarcoding technology to investigate the insect species diversity across different geographic regions of China, focusing on the composition and diversity of natural enemy.
Results:
The DNA metabarcoding method resulted in 1256 OTUs assigned at genus level and 584 named insect species in 20 localities. Significant differences in OTU richness and beta diversity of insects were observed among different sites and geographic regions, whereas no significant differences in alpha diversity were found among the sampling sites. A total of 185 natural enemy taxa were identified, and the species of natural enemies were different in different areas. Elevation, mean monthly temperature and atmospheric pressure were found as significant factors shaping the community composition of both overall insects and natural enemies.
Conclusion:
This study revealed species compositions and distribution patterns within agroecosystems by using DNA metabarcoding, providing a comprehensive understanding of the biodiversity in agricultural settings and its implications for ecological balance and pest control. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
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