{"id":20724,"date":"2024-07-22T11:20:28","date_gmt":"2024-07-22T18:20:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?p=20724"},"modified":"2026-03-05T09:43:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T17:43:19","slug":"bugs-thrive-in-urban-los-angeles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/bugs-thrive-in-urban-los-angeles\/","title":{"rendered":"Bugs thrive in urban Los Angeles \u2013 volunteers\u2019 traps reveal biodiversity hot spots for city insects and\u00a0spiders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/07\/urban-la-biodiversity-top-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/07\/urban-la-biodiversity-top-1920x1080.jpg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/07\/urban-la-biodiversity-top-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/07\/urban-la-biodiversity-top-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  alt=\"Two people are examining a white container in a backyard, standing next to a netted structure.\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Volunteers tend to an insect trap in Los Angeles. (Deniz Durmus, courtesy of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, <a class=\"license\" href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA<\/a>)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=science-and-technology\">Science and Technology<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Bugs thrive in urban Los Angeles \u2013 volunteers\u2019 traps reveal biodiversity hot spots for city insects and\u00a0spiders<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  City life can mean lots of pavement and habitat loss. But many bug species are hanging on, especially in neighborhoods with steady temperatures near the mountains.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Laura Melissa Guzman<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">July 22, 2024<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n            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cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>The most significant <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-023-50675-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">predictors of bug biodiversity in Los Angeles<\/a> are proximity to the mountains and temperature stability throughout the year, according to a study <a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en&amp;user=3bDpYTEAAAAJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">we<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en&amp;user=Y5W_VVsAAAAJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">co-authored<\/a> with <a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=VOfWJhIAAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=sra\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brian V. Brown<\/a> of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and colleagues at the University of Southern California and California State University.<\/p>\n<p>The project used data from the museum\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/nhm.org\/community-science-nhm\/bioscan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BioSCAN project<\/a>, where volunteers across Los Angeles allowed insect traps to be installed on their property between 2014 and 2018.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/606471\/original\/file-20240711-17-wjdhg8.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/606471\/original\/file-20240711-17-wjdhg8.png\" alt=\"Map of greater Los Angeles basin showing dark orange along the edge of mountains in the North, blue in the center and light orange near the coast.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1599\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Arthropod species richness in Los Angeles. Black dots show locations where the BioSCAN project collected bugs between 2014-2018. The color scale shows the predicted number of species, with blue being the least rich and orange being the most rich.(Map tiles by Stamen Design, <a class=\"license\" href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The analysis showed some surprising results. For instance, land values had little impact on the overall diversity of arthropods, specifically spiders and insects. This finding challenges the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/gcb.14682\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">luxury hypothesis<\/a>,\u201d the notion that wealthier neighborhoods, which tend to have <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s42949-021-00022-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more trees<\/a>, always have greater biodiversity \u2014 an assumption that generally holds true for <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/ornithapp\/duad044\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">birds<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/gcb.15800\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mammals<\/a>, including <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12898-019-0262-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bats<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The BioSCAN study identified over 400 different species of bugs across Greater Los Angeles, many surviving despite pavement and habitat loss.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, urban environments can be attractive to some invasive arthropod species. Often called <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/insects10010029\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">urban opportunists<\/a>, such species frequently come in waves that replace or restrict current species. For instance, about 20 years ago, Los Angeles\u2019 native black widow spiders (<em>Latrodectus hesperus<\/em>) began to <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1603\/ME11285\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">be replaced by brown widow spiders<\/a> (<em>Latrodectus geometricus<\/em>). Recent evidence shows these interlopers are now <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3897\/neobiota.42.31582\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">being replaced by noble false widow spiders<\/a> (<em>Steatoda nobilis<\/em>).<\/p>\n<h2>Why it matters<\/h2>\n<p>Bug populations are <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.baae.2017.09.006\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">essential for people<\/a>, who rely on them to provide pollination, decompose plant and animal material and control pest insects. These services are <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11252-015-0435-y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">as important in cities<\/a> as they are in rural environments \u2014 and are provided by insects for free.<\/p>\n<p>Imagine a city where organic waste like dead animals or plant matter didn\u2019t decompose. A city without insects would also mean an environment without birds and most other types of wildlife, many of which rely on insects for food. Such a place would also have no flowers, fruits or vegetables growing. In fact, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XjfbXU5nFS0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">world without insects would be a world without humans<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Low arthropod diversity can lead to ecosystem imbalance. A 2022 study found that pests, like sap-feeding aphids, can get <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.155396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">out of control in highly urban areas<\/a> because there are not enough predators like beetles and spiders to keep them in check.<\/p>\n<p>Most biodiversity studies are conducted in <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/conl.12951\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">natural or even protected areas<\/a>, but more and more, scientists are recognizing that <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/ele.12427\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">urban areas can harbor many species<\/a>. Understanding biodiversity in urban areas is important because <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.tree.2011.10.008\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cities are expected to continue spreading<\/a> \u2014 with the United Nations predicting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/desa\/around-25-billion-more-people-will-be-living-cities-2050-projects-new-un-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">urban populations to grow by 2.5 billion by 2050<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What still isn\u2019t known<\/h2>\n<p>Although we now know which factors most strongly influence <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/urban-spider-insect-biodiversity\/\">arthropod diversity in Los Angeles<\/a>, we don\u2019t fully understand how this diversity translates to healthy urban ecosystems.<\/p>\n<p>Scientists know <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/oik.03652\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more species lead to healthier urban ecosystems<\/a>, but not all species contribute equally. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/calscape.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">planting pollinator-friendly plants<\/a> are a relatively easy intervention in urban environments, but it will not benefit all insect species.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/604756\/original\/file-20240703-23-fh8uq7.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/604756\/original\/file-20240703-23-fh8uq7.jpg\" alt=\"A close up of an insect.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1551\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">This snakefly, from the genus <em>Agulla<\/em>, was one of the 400 bug species discovered in Los Angeles backyards and byways. (Lisa Gonzales, courtesy of Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, <a class=\"license\" href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>What\u2019s next<\/h2>\n<p>As part of the BioSCAN project, volunteers also allowed bioacoustic monitors to be installed on their properties, so future studies can include bats, which are also <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1749-6632.2011.06004.x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">crucial for pollination and pest control in cities<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, researchers at the University of Southern California are continuing to study the same data set to understand seasonality in urban arthropod communities. In a warming climate, this knowledge could help predict future bug population shifts.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, insights from these studies may help inform urban planning and development to support bug biodiversity, particularly as cities expand through urban sprawl.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/225617\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" \/><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/laura-melissa-guzman-1518881\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Laura Melissa Guzman<\/a>, Assistant Professor of Biology, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/usc-dornsife-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences-2669\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences<\/a><\/em>; <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/charles-lehnen-1518879\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Charles Lehnen<\/a>, Doctoral Candidate in Integrative and Evolutionary Biology, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/usc-dornsife-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences-2669\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences<\/a><\/em>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/teagan-baiotto-1547619\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Teagan Baiotto<\/a>, Ph.D. Student in Marine &amp; Environmental Biology, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/university-of-southern-california-1265\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">University of Southern California<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>This article is republished from <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/bugs-thrive-in-urban-los-angeles-volunteers-traps-reveal-biodiversity-hot-spots-for-city-insects-and-spiders-225617\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Related Articles\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/us-and-iran-how-decades-of-mistrust-led-to-open-warfare\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >US and Iran: A brief history of how decades of mistrust and bad blood led to open\u00a0warfare<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/from-bodice-rippers-to-romantasy-romance-novels-are-dominating-the-book-market\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >From bodice rippers to romantasy, romance novels are dominating the book market \u2013 and rewriting women\u2019s sexual\u00a0power<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/if-using-chatgpt-is-cheating-what-about-ghostwriting\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >If using ChatGPT is cheating, what about ghostwriting? The old debate behind a new\u00a0panic<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n            <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>City life can mean lots of pavement and habitat loss. But many bug species are hanging on, especially in neighborhoods with steady temperatures near the mountains.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":20727,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[87,60,83],"class_list":["post-20724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science-and-technology","tag-expert-viewpoint","tag-research","tag-the-conversation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Bugs thrive in urban Los Angeles \u2013 volunteers\u2019 traps reveal biodiversity hot spots for city insects and\u00a0spiders<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"City life can mean habitat loss, but many bug species are hanging on, and volunteers\u2019 traps reveal biodiversity 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