Insect Diversity Changes in Mexican Agro-landscapes

Agro-landscapes are the workspace of agriculture and the living space of the rural population: they can support a rich insect diversity. Yet, some practices, such as intensification, technification, and/or abandonment of fields, along with landscape changes arising from habitat fragmentation and native vegetation deforestation, pose a major threat to many insect species. In this chapter, we discuss study cases from southern and western Mexico as examples of change in insect assemblages and single species in agro-landscapes under different regimes, particularly involving (semi) intense land management and habitat succession after abandonment. Case studies showed that non-crop habitats act as important reservoirs for insect diversity in agro-landscapes and that some landscape elements within this template could favor the persistence of insect populations. To halt further losses of insect diversity in agro-landscapes, agri-environmental schemes and conservation measures could be integrated by applying an array of different approaches, particularly stimulating landowners to implement practices for insect conservation, designing restoration efforts, and monitoring programs and a significant reduction in pesticide application.