Data and code from: Insecticide-level pest control provided by in-field flower strips
Data files
Apr 01, 2026 version files 1.47 MB
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2026-02-24_Glock_et_al_2026_analysis_revised.R
25.76 KB
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Camera_trap_data_2023-03-17.txt
161.87 KB
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Carabid_data.csv
44.92 KB
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Endernte_final_2024-11-27-2.txt
20.69 KB
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FABAE_model_and_predictions.RData
71.45 KB
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InsectSorting_Season_21_22_2024-07-25.txt
45.25 KB
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PERSICAE_model_and_predictions.RData
65.83 KB
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plotinformation_neu_2024-07-24.txt
10.53 KB
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Raw_data_for_aphid_sampling_2022.txt
1.01 MB
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Raw_data_plot_information_aphid_sampling_2022.txt
6.42 KB
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README.md
14.11 KB
Abstract
Biodiversity in agricultural landscapes has declined significantly due to intensified farming practices, underscoring the need for sustainable pest management. Here, we tested whether in-field flowering strips can be an alternative to conventional insecticide use in farming systems. We experimentally manipulated flowering strip mixtures on 10 sites across Germany and measured aphid infestation, biocontrol, and yield in sugar beet, a key European sugar source. All flower mixtures reduced aphid populations more effectively than controls without flower strips, with some mixtures performing as well as insecticides. Mixtures containing legumes were particularly effective against aphids, likely due to their attraction of specific predators. Sugar yields were similar in all plots, regardless of flower mixtures or insecticide treatment. Synthesis and applications: Our findings indicate that in-field flower strips or derived legume-based intercropping systems can help reduce reliance on pesticide use in agriculture.
Dataset DOI link: 10.5061/dryad.tht76hfb6
Description of the data and file structure
This dataset contains aphid count data on sugar beet, the number of different arthropods caught with pitfall traps in sugar beet fields, and yield data from spot-harvested sugar beet as part of the FlowerBeet project.
Note on variable names: The original variable names in the data files were retained to maintain consistency with the associated R scripts and RData files, and to preserve reproducibility of the workflow. English translations and definitions of all variables are provided below in this README.
Files and variables
1.File: Raw_data_for_aphid_sampling_2022.txt
Description: Aphid counts per individual plant in the 2022 field season with information on site, flowering strip segment, aphid species, etc.
- Variables
- Standort-ID=Location ID
Field location with corresponding number - Segment-ID
Sampled segment with corresponding number - Ruebe.Nr=Sugar beet number
Sampled sugar beet with the corresponding number - N.Ind
Number of aphids per plant - Befall=Infestation
Plant infested or not (infested=1, not infested=0) - Entfernung.m=Distance (m)
Distance to the flower strip (m) - Datum=Date
Date when aphids were counted - Laus.spec=Aphid species
Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) or Black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) - Boniturrunde=Rating round
Aphid counting run per site/location
- Standort-ID=Location ID
Note: NA=Not available. No data recorded due to time constraints
2. File: Raw_data_plot_information_aphid_sampling_2022.txt
Description: Plot information (Aphid counting) for the respective treatments (flowering mixtures and controls).
- Variables
- Standort.ID=Location ID
Field location with corresponding number - Segment.ID
Sampled segment with corresponding number - Typ=Type
Core location (K) or satellite location (S) - Nummer=Number
Number of the location without a location name - Ort=Location
Location name only - Bluehmischung=Flower mixture
B1-B5= individual flower mixtures; KontrolleohneInsektizid=Control without insecticide;KontrollemitInsektizid=Control with insecticide - Bluehstreifennummer=Flowering strip number
Flowering strip number and control with and without insecticide; Kontrolleohne=Control without insecticide; Kontrollemit=Control with insecticide
- Standort.ID=Location ID
3. File: InsectSorting_Season_21_22_2024-07-25.txt
Description: Data on arthropods caught with pitfall traps.
- Variables
- Standort=Location
Field location with corresponding number - Segment-ID
Sampled segment with corresponding number - Fallenart=Type of trap
BP=Pitfall trap in the middle of the flowering strip; ZP=Pitfall trap in the sugar beet field - emptying date
The day the pitfall trap was emptied on the field. - c.w.
Calendar week of the year 2022 - Carabidae
Number of ground beetles - Staphylinidae
Number of rove beetles - Arachnida
Number of arachnids - Coccinellidae ad.
Number of adult ladybirds - Coccinellidae lar.
Number of ladybird larvae - Syrphidae ad.
Number of adult hoverflies - Syrphidae lar.
Number of hoverfly larvae - Chrysopidae ad.
Number of adult lacewings - Chrysopidae lar.
Number of lacewing larvae
- Standort=Location
Note: NA=Not availabe. Loss of samples
4. File: plotinformation_neu_2024-07-24.txt
Description: Plot information for all segments and controls per site.
- Variables
- Standort.ID=Location ID
Field location with corresponding number - Segment.ID
Sampled segment with corresponding number - Typ=Type
Core location (K) or satellite location (S) - Nummer=Number
Number of the location without location name - Ort=Location
Location name only - Bluehmischung=Flower mixture
B1-B5= individual flower mixtures; KontrolleohneInsektizid=Control without insecticide;KontrollemitInsektizid=Control with insecticide - Bluehstreifennummer=Flowering strip number
Flowering strip number and control with and without insecticide; Kontrolleohne=Control without insecticide; Kontrollemit=Control with insecticide
- Standort.ID=Location ID
5. File: Endernte_final_2024-11-27-2.txt
Description: Final yield data from sugar beet harvest with different yield parameters.
- Variables
- Standort.ID=Location ID
Field location with corresponding number - Position
Beet harvest plot number per site - Feld-Position=Field position
Exact location of the beet harvest in the field; B1-B5=the respective flower mixture; Streifen=the respective flower strip; Reihe=the respective row; links=left; Kontrolle mit In.=Control with insecticide; Kontrolle ohne In.=Control without insecticide - BM
Number of flower mixtures and controls - Bluehmischung=Flower mixture
Number of flower mixtures and controls - Streifen=Strip
Number of the three flower strip bands - Abstand=Distance
Distance from the flower strip (m) - Entfernung.m=Distance
Distance from the flower strip (m) - ParzLaenge_m=Parcel length
Length of the harvested parcel (m) - Gewicht_R_kg=Weight
Weight of beets harvested per parcel (kg) - Anzahl_R=Number
The number of beets harvested per parcel - FM_R_tha=Fresh matter
Fresh beet matter in tonnes per hectare - ZG_prozent=Sugar content
Sugar content (%) - BZG_B_prozent=Adjusted sugar content
Adjusted sugar content (%) - ZE_tha=Sugar yield in tonnes per hectare
Results from the beet yield in tonnes per hectare multiplied by the sugar content in per cent, and the product divided by 100 - BZE_tha=Adjusted sugar yield in tonnes per hectare
Is calculated by multiplying the beet yield in tonnes per hectare by the adjusted sugar content in per cent and dividing the product by 100.
- Standort.ID=Location ID
Note: NA=Not available. Measurement error
6. File: 2026-02-24_Glock_et_al_2026_analysis_revised.R
Description: The complete R script used for all analyses and visualizations.
Important information: Before running the R scripts, users should set the working directory to the folder containing the downloaded Dryad data files, either by editing the setwd() line at the top of the script or by setting the working directory manually in R/RStudio. All input files are then read from this directory.
7. File: PERSICAE_model_and_predictions.RData
Description: Stored model and predictions for green aphids (Myzus persicae).
- mixed5: fitted mixed-effects model object used for the analysis of Myzus persicae data.
- datapred: data frame
- Variables
- Standort.ID=Location ID
Field location with corresponding number - Segment.ID
Sampled segment with corresponding number - Bluehmischung=Flower mixture
B1-B5= individual flower mixtures; KontrolleohneInsektizid=Control without insecticide;KontrollemitInsektizid=Control with insecticide - Entfernung.m=Distance
Distance from the flower strip (m) - DATE
Sampling date - Typ.x=Type
Core location (K) - N.Ind
Number of aphids - DIST2=Recorded distance class
Binary distance grouping used in the statistical analysis; coding: 0=close/1=far - MIX2=Flower mixture
Flower mixtures and controls - Distanz=Distance
Distance from the flower strip; nah=near; fern=far - Behandlung=Treatment
Flower mixtures and controls; Ktrl.=control - DATE.f
Sampling date stored as a factor - DATE.num
Numeric representation of sampling date - Typ.y=Type
Core location (K) - Nummer=Number
Number of field site - Ort=Location
Location name only - Bluehstreifennummer=Flowering strip number
Flowering strip number and control with and without insecticide - DATE.days
Number of days since the first sampling date used in the analysis - Estimate
Model-based predicted value - Est.Error
Standard error associated with the predicted value - Q2.5
Lower 95% uncertainty interval bound of the prediction - Q97.5
Upper 95% uncertainty interval bound of the prediction
- Standort.ID=Location ID
- Variables
8. File: FABAE_model_and_predictions.RData
Description: Stored model and predictions for black aphids (Aphis fabae).
- mixed5: fitted mixed-effects model object used for the analysis of Aphis fabae data.
- datapred: data frame
- Variables
- Standort.ID=Location ID
Field location with corresponding number - Segment.ID
Sampled segment with corresponding number - Bluehmischung=Flower mixture
B1-B5= individual flower mixtures; KontrolleohneInsektizid=Control without insecticide;KontrollemitInsektizid=Control with insecticide - Entfernung.m=Distance
Distance from the flower strip (m) - DATE
Sampling date - Typ.x=Type
Core location (K) - N.Ind
Number of aphids - DIST2=Recorded distance class
Binary distance grouping used in the statistical analysis; coding: 0=close/1=far - MIX2=Flower mixture
Flower mixtures and controls - Distanz=Distance
Distance from the flower strip; nah=near; fern=far - Behandlung=Treatment
Flower mixtures and controls; Ktrl.=control - DATE.f
Sampling date stored as a factor - DATE.num
Numeric representation of sampling date - Typ.y=Type
Core location (K) - Nummer=Number
Number of field site - Ort=Location
Location name only - Bluehstreifennummer=Flowering strip number
Flowering strip number and control with and without insecticide - DATE.days
Number of days since the first sampling date used in the analysis - Estimate
Model-based predicted value - Est.Error
Standard error associated with the predicted value - Q2.5
Lower 95% uncertainty interval bound of the prediction - Q97.5
Upper 95% uncertainty interval bound of the prediction
- Standort.ID=Location ID
- Variables
9. File: Carabid_data.csv
Description: Information on ground beetles (identified to species level) from selected calendar weeks and sites
- Variables
- site
Field location with corresponding number - week
Calendar week of the year 2022 - strip
A-H=Names for individual flowering strip bands and control areas - segment
BP=Pitfall trap in the middle of the flowering strip; ZP=Pitfall trap in the sugar beet field - treatment
Flowering mixtures and controls; CNI=control no insecticide; CWI=control with insecticide - species
Ground beetle species - count
Number of ground beetles
- site
10. File: Camera_trap_data_2023-03-17.txt
Description: Contains information about beneficial arthropods recorded with camera traps in sugar beet fields.
- Variables
- Nr=Number
Camera recording number - ID
Camera recording identification number - Datum=Date
Date of the camera recording - Startzeit=Start time
The exact start time of the camera recording - Wetter=Weather
Heiter bis wolkig=sunny to cloudy; Sonnig=sunny; Bewoelkt=cloudy - Temp.C
Temperature in degree Celsius - FeldID=Field ID
Identification number of the respective field site - SegmentID
Identification number of the respective segment - Bluehmischung=Flower mixture
Flowering mixture and control - Aufnahmedauer.min=Recording duration
Recording duration (min) - Aufnahmeintervall.min=Recording interval
Recording interval (min) - Abstand.Bluehstreifen.m=Distance from the flower strip
Distance from the flower strip (m) - Insektizidbehandlung=Insecticide treatment
Insecticide treatment; 0=no, 1=yes - Aphis.fabae
Number of black bean aphids - Myzus.persicae
Number of green peach aphids - Mumien=Mummies
Number of aphid mummies - Laus.andere=Other aphid species
Species of aphids other than those mentioned above - Ort=Location
Location where the animal was filmed; Ruebe=sugar beet, Andere Pflanze=other plant species, Boden=soil, Luft=air - Acari
Number of mites - Aculeata
Number of Aculeata - Apiformes
Number of bees - Apis.millifera
Number of western honey bee - Arachnida
Number of arachnids - Arthropoda
Number of arthropods - Caelifera
Number of grasshoppers - Cantharidae
Number of soldier beetles - Coccinellidae
Number of adult ladybirds - Coccinellidae_Larva
Number of ladybird larvae - Coccinellidae_Molting
Number of molting ladybirds - Coccinellidae_Puppa
Number of ladybird pupae - Coleoptera
Number of beetles - Diptera
Number of flies - Formicidae
Number of ants - Heteroptera
Number of true bugs - Hummel=Bumblebee
Number of bumblebees - Hymenoptera
Number of Hymenoptera - Insecta
Number of insects - Larva
Number of larvae - Lepidoptera
Number of butterflies and moths - Myriapoda
Number of myriapods - Odonata
Number of dragonflies - Opiliones
Number of harvestmen - Syrphidae
Number of adult hoverflies - Syrphidae_Larva
Number of hoverfly larvae - Tipulidae
Number of crane flies - Vespinae
Number of the subfamily Vespinae - TiereSumme=Total number of animals
Total number of animals - NuetzlingeSumme=Total number of beneficial organisms
Total number of beneficial organisms - Kalenderwoche=Calendar week
Calendar week - aphids.sum
Total number of aphids
- Nr=Number
Sharing/Access information
There are no external links or public repositories beyond this Dryad submission.
Code/Software
R version ≥ 4.4.0
Core packages: nlme, glmmTMB, ggplot2, emmeans, lattice, dplyr, nnet, sjPlot, reshape2, MASS, effects, fitdistrplus, aomisc, nlraa, vars, lubridate, tseries
The regeneration of all illustrations and model outputs is enabled by the supplied code and input files.