<b>Organic farming drives higher diversity of beetles, with more predators and less pests</b>

We investigated insect beetle community composition in three organic and three conventional farming systems in Vientiane central Lao PDR. To investigate beetle diversity, 420 pitfall traps were installed from January to July 2023. These months are recognized as peaks in insect community activity within the agricultural landscape of Lao PDR, during which farmers produce more vegetables compared to other months. Our results indicate that beetle abundance was relatively consistent in both farms, while family richness was higher in organic farming compared to conventional farming. Furthermore, the functional feeding guilds, especially predators, were over ten times more abundant in organic farming, while insect pests were twice as prevalent in conventional farming. Concerning the abundance and family richness of beetles for each month, there was an increase from January to March, followed by a slight decrease until July. It is clearly seen that our finding shows significant evidence to assist as a step toward to contribute government policy, particularly to the Ministry of Agriculture, which plays a crucial role in promoting and supporting the development of organic agriculture in Lao PDR. These findings have enormous significance for the promotion of sustainable agriculture and the preservation of biodiversity, and they greatly advance our understanding of the ecological effects of various farming methods.