Objective:

Knowing and studying insects associated to an agroecosystem allow us to establish functional groups that enable the populations’ self-regulation and promote the provision of ecosystem services.

Scope:

In order to assess the presence of functional groups of insects associated to family farming and agroecological practices in the province of Sumapaz, Cundinamarca (Colombia), a pilot test was designed.

Methodology:

Sampling was performed on 11 family farms in the municipalities of Arbelaez, Fusagasuga, Granada and Tibacuy. The farms were also classified into 3 different groups: group 1 (organic producers), group 2 (producers in organic conversion process), group 3 (conventional producers). Two samples were taken on each farm between March and June-2017, using pitfall traps and capture of flying insects with an entomological net.

Main Results:

One thousand six hundred fifty-one specimens were collected and classified in 11 orders, 60 families and 179 morphospecies, 976 of them were beneficial insects (predators, decomposers, parasitoids and pollinators) and 675 insects were considered pests (defoliating phytophagous, sucking phytophagous and generalist phytophagous). Group 1 reported the highest number (425) of beneficial insects, while group 3 had the highest number (356) of pest insects. The most representative family in the three groups was Formicidae, with 421 specimens. In addition, the finding of genus Mordellistena (Coleoptera: Mordellidae: Mordellistenini) was registered for the first time for the department of Cundinamarca.

Conclusions:

From this information, the establishment of functional groups indicates the state of these agroecosystems, where the organic farms guarantee a better pollination and pest control, unlike the conventional ones.

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