Predatory arthropod community composition in apple orchards: Orchard management, landscape structure and sampling method

'Data file Predatory Arthropods.xls' contains all environmental data, abundance data of broad predatory groups (Coleoptera, Aranae, Heteroptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, Opiliones, Diptera, Dermaptera) and dipteran subgroups (Hybotidae, Dolichopodidae), and number of captured species of selected dipteran groups (Empididae, Hybotidae and Dolichopodidae). Diptera diversity is calculated as the pooled value of 2015 and 2016, using the combination of samling methods. Missing values indicated with NA. Environmental data describe collection year (2015 = beat sampling, 2016 = suction sampling), orchard type (organic, IPM), site identity, 8 variables describing proportional cover of habitats within a 1 km radius (cereals, flowering crops, perennial crops, wetlands, conifers, broadleaved trees, seminatural grassland and gardens), a measure of landscape diversity (Shannon diversity of recorded landscape categories) and %flower cover within orchards. Abundance data describe number of captured individuals per orchard. 2015: Beat sampling was conducted on 24 trees per orchard and one branch per tree. The trees were located along a 40 m linear transect from field edge towards field interior. The size of sampled branches was selected to be similar to the beating tray. The tray consisted on a 65 × 50 cm wooden frame with a handle supporting a quadrangular funnel-shaped cloth (50 cm high) sloping down towards the center to a cup containing 70 % ethanol. 2016: Suction sampling was conducted using the InsectaZooka suction sampling device (Bioquip Products, Rancho Dominguez, CA, USA) for 10x2 minutes per orchard. During each 2 minute sampling, we collected insects in a short stocking placed at the inlet (diameter 6 cm) of the suction sampling device and each sample contained arthropods from branches on 2-3 neighboring apple trees depending on apple tree size. Thus, the total number of sampled trees was similar between beat and suction sampling. At the end of each 2 minute sampling, the stocking was removed, sealed and placed in a cool box for transportation. 'Dipteran community data.xls' contains all data on dipteran abundance at the species level.