Field of dreams: An insect biodiversity study at Glacier Creek Preserve

Insects are an integral component of almost every ecosystem on the planet. For this reason, cataloging, identifying, and preserving insects should be a top conservation priority, especially in reclaimed areas. Glacier Creek Preserve, in Omaha, Nebraska, consists of 524 acres of reclaimed tall and mid-grass prairie. While the area supports diverse plant and animal populations, no large-scale insect survey has been conducted.

To address this, four malaise traps and twenty pitfall traps were placed throughout the preserve starting in April and May, 2019 and ending in September, 2019. Two malaise traps were placed in open prairie in the north and south sections of the preserve. One malaise trap was placed in a wooded area to the west and one malaise trap was placed on the border of agriculture land to the east of the preserve. Pitfalls were placed along four transects that covered a variety of habitats. Trap containers were filled with 70% alcohol and were emptied weekly. Collected specimens were preserved or pinned and identified using various morphological keys. Specimens were identified to at least family and to species when possible. Weekly collections were diverse in both quantity and species. By order, Diptera represented almost half of all specimens collected (46%), with Hymenoptera following at 28% of all specimens. Diversity of families remained constant throughout the summer months, with a steep drop in September. The data collected from this survey will be used to formulate conservation management strategies and to maintain a sustainable preserve that focuses on prairie eco-systems.