GLI INSETTI COME BIOINDICATORI

Insects as bioindicatorsThe use of Insects as bioindicators is shortly reviewed and discussed and examples are given for each relevant kind ofbioindication. We start from McGeoch’s classic definitions of environmental, ecological and biodiversity indicators, anddeepen some aspects of freshwater macroinvertebrates (IBE-index) and of soil arthropods use (QBS-index). Insects asenvironmental health indicators and bioaccumulators are treated as well. Concerning ecological indicators, the speciesdiversity approach is dealt separately from the species’ traits evaluation, but always in the light of resource sustainability.Biodiversity indicators are divided between the “within taxon” and the “cross taxon” approach, and the importance ofhotspots as still underworked biodiversity concentration areas is emphasized by examining recent work on the impact ofglobal warming on hypogean ground beetles. Practical examples of umbrella, keystone and flagship species are also discussed,ecosystem engineers, management indicators and some other definition have been added, and a conceptual framework forbeginners is presented. Finally, some advantages of insects as bioindicators versus Vertebrates or plants are briefly dealt with.