Inventory of Arthropods of Azorean Urban Gardens

Study Extent

The study was conducted on two urban gardens, the “Jardim Botânico”, located in Horta city, in Faial Island, and “Jardim Duque da Terceira” located in Angra do Heroísmo city, in Terceira Island. The first, is mainly composed by endemic and native plant species, but also includes some introduced species common and widespread in the Azores. The second garden includes mainly collections of introduced trees, shrubs and palms from worldwide (see for more details Arteaga et al. 2020).

Sampling

Passive Flight Interception traps (SLAM traps), nocturnal Active Aerial Searching (AAS) and nocturnal Foliage Beating (FBN) methods were used to sample the arthropod biodiversity (Arachnida, Chilopoda, Diplopoda and Insecta Classes) on two historical urban gardens of the Azores, between 2017 and 2018: the “Jardim Botânico”, located in Horta city, in Faial Island, and “Jardim Duque da Terceira” located in Angra do Heroísmo city, in Terceira Island. AAS consists on collecting arthropods found above knee-level by hand, forceps, pooter or brush and immediately transferring them into vials containing ethanol 96%. FBN consists on beat tree and shrub branches with a wooden stick, and collect the fallen specimens on a beating tray, posteriorly transferred to vials containing ethanol 96%. AAS and FBN are reliable methods to collect samples of arthropods that are mainly active during night (Borges et al. 2018). The SLAM traps consists on structures of 110 cm3 designed to intercept flying and non-flying arthropods. They were placed in the gardens during 6 consecutive months, checked monthly. For more details about sampling methods, see Arteaga et al. (2020). Collected samples were sorted and posteriorly identified by an expert taxonomist (P.A.V.B) in laboratory.

Quality Control

All collected specimens were identified by an expert taxonomist (P.A.V.B) in laboratory.

Method steps

1. Passive Flight Interception traps (SLAM traps), nocturnal Active Aerial Searching (AAS) and nocturnal Foliage Beating (FBN) methods were used to sample the arthropod biodiversity (Arachnida, Chilopoda, Diplopoda and Insecta Classes) on two historical urban gardens of the Azores. AAS consists on collecting arthropods found above knee-level by hand, forceps, pooter or brush and immediately transferring them into vials containing ethanol 96%. FBN consists on beat tree and shrub branches with a wooden stick, and collect the fallen specimens on a beating tray, posteriorly transferred to vials containing ethanol 96%. The SLAM traps consists on structures of 110 cm3 designed to intercept flying and non-flying arthropods. They were placed in the gardens during 6 consecutive months, checked monthly.

The study comprise the arthropod Classes: Arachnida, Chilopoda, Diplopoda and Insecta.

1. Arthropoda
   common name: Arthropods rank: phylum
2. Arachnida
   common name: Arachnids rank: class
3. Chilopoda
   common name: Centipedes rank: class
4. Diplopoda
   common name: Millipedes rank: class
5. Insecta
   common name: Insects rank: class
6. Araneae
   common name: Spiders rank: order
7. Opiliones
   common name: Opilions rank: order
8. Pseudoscorpiones
   common name: Pseudoscorpiones rank: order
9. Scutigeromorpha
   common name: Scutigeromorphs rank: order
10. Julida
    common name: Millipedes rank: order
11. Coleoptera
    common name: Beetles rank: order
12. Dermaptera
    common name: Earwigs rank: order
13. Hemiptera
    common name: Bugs rank: order
14. Hymenoptera
    common name: Ants rank: order
15. Blattodea
    common name: Termites rank: order
16. Archaeognatha
    common name: Bristletails rank: order
17. Neuroptera
    common name: Lacewings rank: order
18. Phasmida
    common name: Stick insects rank: order
19. Psocodea
    common name: Barklice rank: order
20. Thysanoptera
    common name: Trips rank: order

The study was conducted in Faial and Terceira islands, Azores, Portugal