# Spatial overlap and temporal synchrony between guilds of insect hosts and parasitoids

## TL;DR

This study explores how insect host and parasitoid groups overlap in space and time, finding that climate and land use changes could disrupt their ecological relationships.

## Contribution

The study reveals spatial and temporal synchrony patterns between insect host and parasitoid guilds using nationwide data and DNA metabarcoding.

## Key findings

- Species richness in all insect guilds declines with increasing latitude.
- Parasitoid guild richness peaks later in the season than their host guilds.
- Guild-specific responses to temperature drive spatiotemporal patterns.

## Abstract

How communities are structured into functional groups and trophic layers is key to understanding ecosystem functioning. Nonetheless, we lack insights about spatiotemporal variation in guild composition of communities and its causes.To investigate spatial and temporal patterns and drivers of variation in insect feeding guilds, we combined data from a nationwide survey of Swedish insects using Malaise traps and DNA metabarcoding with a comprehensive trait database. We assigned species into one of three feeding guilds (phytophages, saprophages, predators) or into one of three associated parasitoid guilds. We then analysed patterns in species richness for each guild.Species richness declined with latitude in all guilds. Beyond this gradient, local variation in species richness matched between hosts and their parasitoids. Yet, hosts and their parasitoids responded differently to habitat. The phenological peak of parasitoid species richness appeared later than the peak of their hosts, but the length of time lags varied among guilds. Spatiotemporal patterns were driven by guild‐specific responses to temperature, though much variation remained between seasons and locations even when controlling for temperature.Overall, these patterns suggest that shifts in both climate and land use may alter the synchrony of insect trophic layers, with unknown consequences.

How communities are structured into functional groups and trophic layers is key to understanding ecosystem functioning. Nonetheless, we lack insights about spatiotemporal variation in guild composition of communities and its causes.

To investigate spatial and temporal patterns and drivers of variation in insect feeding guilds, we combined data from a nationwide survey of Swedish insects using Malaise traps and DNA metabarcoding with a comprehensive trait database. We assigned species into one of three feeding guilds (phytophages, saprophages, predators) or into one of three associated parasitoid guilds. We then analysed patterns in species richness for each guild.

Species richness declined with latitude in all guilds. Beyond this gradient, local variation in species richness matched between hosts and their parasitoids. Yet, hosts and their parasitoids responded differently to habitat. The phenological peak of parasitoid species richness appeared later than the peak of their hosts, but the length of time lags varied among guilds. Spatiotemporal patterns were driven by guild‐specific responses to temperature, though much variation remained between seasons and locations even when controlling for temperature.

Overall, these patterns suggest that shifts in both climate and land use may alter the synchrony of insect trophic layers, with unknown consequences.

This study identified a spatial overlap between insect host guild richness and parasitoid richness. Species richness in parasitoid guilds always increased later in the season than richness of their host guilds. These findings suggest that shifts in climate and land‐use may alter the synchrony of insect trophic layers.