July 22, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked trusted source written by researcher(s) proofread by Laura Melissa Guzman, Charles Lehnen and Teagan Baiotto, The Conversation The most significant predictors of bug biodiversity in Los Angeles are proximity to the mountains and temperature stability throughout the year, according to a study we co-authored with Brian V. Brown of the Los Angeles Natural History Museum and colleagues at the University of Southern California and California State University.
The project used data from the museum's BioSCAN project , where volunteers across Los Angeles allowed insect traps to be installed on their property between 2014 and 2018. The analysis showed some surprising results. For instance, land values had little impact on the overall diversity of arthropods, specifically spiders and insects.
This finding challenges the " luxury hypothesis ," the notion that wealthier neighborhoods, which tend to have more trees , always have greater biodiversity—an assumption that generally holds true for birds and mammals , including bats . The BioSCAN study identified over 400 different species of bugs across Greater Los Angeles, many surviving despite pavement and habitat loss. In fact, urban environments can be attractive to some invasive arthropod species.
Often called urban opportunists , s.