Negative impact of roadside mowing on arthropod fauna and its reduction with ‘arthropod?friendly’ mowing technique

An underestimated factor that contributes to the decline of insects observed during last year is probably mortality, which caused by mowing grassland. We studied negative impact on arthropod fauna roadside grassland, might serve as potential habitat for prevent their local extinction and corridor dispersal in anthropogenic landscapes. In addition, we if losses due can be mitigated use ‘arthropod-friendly’ technique. agreement with earlier studies, found a conventional head (MK 1200 from MULAG) considerable arthropods, ranging 29% Heteroptera over around 50% Araneae, Cicadina, Hymenoptera Diptera, up 73% holometabolous larvae, 87% Lepidoptera. These were fully offset Heteroptera, Lepidoptera larvae when using Eco MULAG, was designed ‘arthropod-friendly’. For reduced 15% 25% respectively. Saltatoria Coleoptera, did not find any significant differences between all treatments. data demonstrate roadsides technology has highly detrimental effect grassland fauna. However, this or at least Therefore, technique high reduce insect making these areas insects.