Data from: A survey of beneficial insects in Southeast USA sesame (Lamiales: Pedaliaceae) fields
Data files
Jun 29, 2026 version files 315.16 KB
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dataset1.csv
233.83 KB
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dataset2.csv
39.20 KB
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dataset3.csv
24.90 KB
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metadata.csv
5.08 KB
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README.md
12.14 KB
Abstract
Sesame is a new, promising oilseed crop for the southeastern USA. As acreage is expected to survive, it is important to understand beneficial insect communities in this crop. We provide the first survey of beneficial insects, including pollinators and potential natural enemies, for sesame in the USA. In 2023 insects were documented using two sampling methods: visual identification and sticky cards.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3r2280grs
Description of the data and file structure
Dataset 1: Visual insect survey data and physical specimen data
Dataset 2: Pollen Identification from Physical Specimens
Dataset 3: Insects Collected by Sticky Cards
Files and variables
File: metadata.csv
Description: summary of variables used in each dataset, the reference to the manuscript, and the reference to the data standard used to create these spreadsheets.
File: dataset1.csv
Description: visual insect survey data and physical insect collection data
Variables
- sampleID: A unique identifier for the specimen or observation
- occurenceID: A unique identifier for the occurrence
- institutionCode: The name (or acronym) in use by the institution or organization having custody of the object(s) or information referred to in the record
- scientificName: The full scientific name
- recordedBy: A list of names of people, groups, or organizations responsible for recording the original occurrence. This is a synonym of “Collector"
- identifiedBy: A list of names of people, groups, or organizations who identified the specimen associated with an occurrence
- basisOfRecord: The specific nature of the data record; allowable entries are PreservedSpecimen, HumanObservations, MachineObservation (photographs), MaterialEntity (genetic or pathogen material)
- disposition: The current state of a specimen. "." used if data not recorded for this entry, "N/A" used if data field is not applicable
- preparations: A list of preparations and preservation methods for material associated with a sample. "." used if data not recorded for this entry, "N/A" used if data field is not applicable
- sex: The sex of the biological individual(s) represented in the occurrence; allowable entries include female, male. "." used if data not recorded for this entry, "N/A" used if data field is not applicable
- caste: Categorization of individuals for eusocial species; allowable entries include queen, worker, drone. "." used if data not recorded for this entry, "N/A" used if data field is not applicable
- eventDate: The date-time or interval during which a sampling event occurred
- eventTime: The time or interval during which a sampling event occurred. "." used if data not recorded for this entry, "N/A" used if data field is not applicable
- year: The four-digit year in which the sampling event occurred, according to the Common Era Calendar
- month: The integer month in which the sampling event occurred
- day: The integer day of the month on which the sampling event occurred
- habitat: A category or description of the habitat in which the sampling event occurred
- locationID: An identifier for the set information about a sampling location, may be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the dataset
- country: The name of the country or major administrative unit in which the sampling location occurs
- stateProvince: The name of the next smaller administrative region than the country (state, province, canton, department, region, etc.) in which the sampling occurs
- county: The full, unabbreviated name of the next smaller administrative region than stateProvince (county, department, etc.) in which the sampling location occurs
- locality: The specific description of the place
- decimalLatitude: The geographic latitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a sampling location
- decimalLongitude: The geographic longitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a sampling location
- associatedTaxa: A list of identifiers or names of taxa and the associations of this occurrence to each of them, for example the plant a bee was observed on
- sampleSizeUnit: A unit of measurement of the size of a sample in a sampling event; passive traps or active samples; allowable entries include bowl, cup, Malaise, vane, collectors, observers
- samplingEffort: The amount of effort expended during a sampling event; if using passive traps include how many traps were out and for how long; if using collectors include the area samples, how long sampling lasted, and how many people were collecting
File: dataset2.csv
Description: pollen grain identification from slides created off of physical specimens
Variables
- sampleID: A unique identifier for the specimen or observation
- occurenceID: A unique identifier for the occurrence
- institutionCode: The name (or acronym) in use by the institution or organization having custody of the object(s) or information referred to in the record
- scientificName: The full scientific name
- totalSesameHead: The total number of sesame pollen grains documented on the corresponding sample's head
- totalOtherHead: The total number of other plant species pollen grains documented on the corresponding sample's head
- totalPollenHead: The total number of pollen grains documented on the corresponding sample's head
- totalSesameScopa: The total number of sesame pollen grains documented on the corresponding sample's legs and/or scopa
- totalOtherScopa: The total number of other plant species pollen grains documented on the corresponding sample's legs and/or scopa
- totalPollenScopa: The total number of pollen grains documented on the corresponding sample's legs and/or scopa
- recordedBy: A list of names of people, groups, or organizations responsible for recording the original occurrence. This is a synonym of “Collector"
- identifiedBy: A list of names of people, groups, or organizations who identified the specimen associated with an occurrence
- pollenIdentifiedBy: A list of names of people, groups, or organizations who identified the pollen slide associated with an occurrence
- basisOfRecord: The specific nature of the data record; allowable entries are PreservedSpecimen, HumanObservations, MachineObservation (photographs), MaterialEntity (genetic or pathogen material)
- disposition: The current state of a specimen
- preparations: A list of preparations and preservation methods for material associated with a sample
- sex: The sex of the biological individual(s) represented in the occurrence; allowable entries include female, male."." used if data not recorded for this entry, "N/A" used if data field is not applicable
- caste: Categorization of individuals for eusocial species; allowable entries include queen, worker, drone. "." used if data not recorded for this entry, "N/A" used if data field is not applicable
- eventDate: The date-time or interval during which a sampling event occurred
- habitat: A category or description of the habitat in which the sampling event occurred
- locationID: An identifier for the set information about a sampling location, may be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the dataset
- country: The name of the country or major administrative unit in which the sampling location occurs
- stateProvince: The name of the next smaller administrative region than the country (state, province, canton, department, region, etc.) in which the sampling occurs
- county: The full, unabbreviated name of the next smaller administrative region than stateProvince (county, department, etc.) in which the sampling location occurs
- locality: The specific description of the place
- decimalLatitude: The geographic latitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a sampling location
- decimalLongitude: The geographic longitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a sampling location
- associatedTaxa: A list of identifiers or names of taxa and the associations of this occurrence to each of them, for example the plant a bee was observed on
- sampleSizeUnit: A unit of measurement of the size of a sample in a sampling event; passive traps or active samples; allowable entries include bowl, cup, Malaise, vane, collectors, observers
- samplingEffort: The amount of effort expended during a sampling event; if using passive traps include how many traps were out and for how long; if using collectors include the area samples, how long sampling lasted, and how many people were collecting
File: dataset3.csv
Description: identification of insect groups collected by sticky card
Variables
- sampleID: A unique identifier for the specimen or observation
- occurenceID: A unique identifier for the occurrence
- institutionCode: The name (or acronym) in use by the institution or organization having custody of the object(s) or information referred to in the record
- numberDragonfly: The number of Dragonflies documented on the sticky card
- numberLadyBeetle: The number of Lady Beetles documented on the sticky card
- numberStiltBugs: The number of Stilt Bugs documented on the sticky card
- numberWasps/Parasitoids: The number of Wasps and Parasitoids documented on the sticky card
- recordedBy: A list of names of people, groups, or organizations responsible for recording the original occurrence. This is a synonym of “Collector"
- identifiedBy: A list of names of people, groups, or organizations who identified the specimen associated with an occurrence
- basisOfRecord: The specific nature of the data record; allowable entries are PreservedSpecimen, HumanObservations, MachineObservation (photographs), MaterialEntity (genetic or pathogen material)
- disposition: The current state of a specimen
- preparations: A list of preparations and preservation methods for material associated with a sample
- sex: The sex of the biological individual(s) represented in the occurrence; allowable entries include female, male
- caste: Categorization of individuals for eusocial species; allowable entries include queen, worker, drone
- eventDate: The date-time or interval during which a sampling event occurred
- eventTime: The time or interval during which a sampling event occurred
- year: The four-digit year in which the sampling event occurred, according to the Common Era Calendar
- month: The integer month in which the sampling event occurred
- day: The integer day of the month on which the sampling event occurred
- habitat: A category or description of the habitat in which the sampling event occurred
- locationID: An identifier for the set information about a sampling location, may be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the dataset
- country: The name of the country or major administrative unit in which the sampling location occurs
- stateProvince: The name of the next smaller administrative region than the country (state, province, canton, department, region, etc.) in which the sampling occurs
- county: The full, unabbreviated name of the next smaller administrative region than stateProvince (county, department, etc.) in which the sampling location occurs
- locality: The specific description of the place
- decimalLatitude: The geographic latitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a sampling location
- decimalLongitude: The geographic longitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a sampling location
- sampleSizeUnit: A unit of measurement of the size of a sample in a sampling event; passive traps or active samples; allowable entries include bowl, cup, Malaise, vane, collectors, observers
- samplingEffort: The amount of effort expended during a sampling event; if using passive traps include how many traps were out and for how long; if using collectors include the area samples, how long sampling lasted, and how many people were collecting
Access information
This data is associated with a manuscript currently in review.
Insect Surveys
Visual insect surveys were conducted for 30 minutes, once per week, for 3 weeks across peak sesame bloom. Only active floral visitors were documented. Insects were identified down to the lowest taxonomic level possible in the field. When needed, a physical specimen was collected for further identification, during which the timer was stopped. After the survey period was completed, 3 - 5 voucher specimens per insect species were collected of active floral visitors.
Pollen Identification from Physical Specimens
Physical specimens were collected in the field into individual 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tubes, stored on ice during transport, and stored at -20° C at North Carolina State University until further processing. We created pollen slides using Fuchsin Jelly, creating one slide by swabbing the head and a second slide swabbing the legs of each specimen. Forceps were cleaned with 70% ethanol to prevent cross contamination between samples. Pollen slides were counted under a compound light microscope at 400x magnification. We used 5 randomly selected fields of view per pollen slide and classified pollen grains as sesame or other plant types.
Sticky Cards
Two sticky cards were placed on each side of the field, one yellow and one red. Sticky cards were left in the field for one week each, up to 3 weeks during peak sesame bloom. Sticky cards were sealed with plastic wrap, transported on ice, and stored at -20° C at North Carolina State University until further processing. Insects were identified under a stereomicroscope and categorized into stilt bugs, dragonflies, lady beetles, wasps and parasitoids.