One of the greatest threats to biodiversity is habitat loss. Xerothermic habitats associated with a high diversity of Hymenoptera insects are rapidly disappearing. [1]. Bees and wasps (Aculeata) are important in arthropod population management and plant pollination. [2]. Restoration of natural habitats can be important in restoring and preserving the Hymenoptera insect community. The Hymenoptera community depends on a relatively large diversity of ecosystem resources and can be an important biological indicator of ecosystem health. Therefore studies of this community may be important in assessing habitat quality and necessary conservation actions. [3]. The aim of the study was to assess the diversity of Hymenoptera in newly restored inland dunes in southeastern Lithuania.
The research was conducted in Dzūkija National Park, in the Alkūnės Kampas, Marcinkonys, and Dravių Kampas geomorphological reserves. In these areas, the LIFE integrated project "Optimizing the Management of the Natura 2000 Network in Lithuania" was implemented, and in 2023 - 2024 three continental dune plots were opened for the restoration of habitats of European Community importance. Insects were caught in 2023 and 2024 from June to August. Ten yellow and white pan (Moericke) traps were used in open dune plots and surrounding forests (control samples) (Fig. 1). The collected insects were identified in the laboratory based on morphological characteristics to the species level.
During the study, 667 individuals of the order Hymenoptera from 103 species, 17 families, and 5 superfamilies were identified. The largest number of families was from the Apoidea superfamily (13), with the family Sphecidae having the largest number of individuals (220). The most species-rich family was Pompilidae (29). Of the identified species, 51 species were captured only in open inland dunes and 24 species were captured only in forest habitats. Scolia hirta (Schrank, 1781), which is listed in the Lithuanian Red Book, was caught in a trap in open dunes. 28 species were captured in both forest and open continental dune habitats, with the majority of species being relatively more abundant in the dunes. The average number of individuals per trap per day was higher in open continental dune habitats.
The study found that insect species associated with open sandy areas (bees and wasps), which provide important ecosystem services, increased in the open dunes. Inland dune restoration is still ongoing in the restoration project areas, so further research is important to assess the importance of such projects. %20View%20of%20open%20inland%20dunes;%20(B)%20Pan%20(Moericke)%20trap%20in%20inland%20dune%20habitat..png)