Assessment of Beetle and Bug Diversity in Extensively Managed Cattle Farms of Varying Cattle Density, Sward Height, and Surrounding Land Use

Livestock that is extensively managed can have higher diversity and abundance of insects in comparison to intensively managed livestock, although data are more equivocal within a gradient of extensively managed pastures. Additionally, biodiversity on farms is vulnerable to degradation of the surrounding landscape and changing patterns of land use. We monitored Coleoptera and Hemiptera on grass-fed cattle farms in North Carolina to determine effects of cattle and land use patterns on biodiversity. We found differences among farms in sward height, densities of several insect families and insect diversity that were related to management but not to cattle density. Sward height was more strongly related to the insect community than surrounding land cover patterns. However, both sward height and land cover patterns were related to insect diversity patterns, suggesting that maintenance of biodiversity is not solely affected by agricultural practices on farms.