The shape and material of the flight interception trap matter for beetle sampling

Beetles are one of the most diverse insect groups, playing vital roles in ecosystem functions such as decomposition and pollination. Despite their ecological importance, their immense diversity is often undersampled due to inconsistent and non-standardised sampling methodologies. We assessed the sampling efficiency of flight interception traps using six trap designs that differed in shape and panel material in a hemiboreal, mixed deciduous forest. We compared the designs in terms of species number, abundance, diversity of beetles, and saproxylic beetle species. Trap efficiency was evaluated using species accumulation curves. We collected a total of 457 beetle species (8,552 individuals) from 51 families, including 272 saproxylic species. Although species accumulation curves showed signs of flattening, significant differences were observed among trap designs. Panels made of soft plastic (polyethylene) outperformed those made of hard plastic (polycarbonate) in terms of species diversity a..., , , # Overlooked design factors in saproxylic beetle sampling: shape and material of flight-interception traps [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.4b8gthtpt](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.4b8gthtpt) ## Description of the data and file structure This dataset includes the data and R scripts used to replicate the study by Sbaraglia et al. (in review). The study examines the efficiency of various flight-interception trap designs in capturing beetles, focusing on differences in shape (Cross-pane, Triangular-pane, Rectangular-pane) and material (PE: polyethylene, and PC: polycarbonate). Data were collected in a small hemiboreal forest in Southwestern Norway (4 hectares) during two sampling sessions in July and August 2023. The study area comprised 15 plots, each containing six trap designs representing all combinations of shape and material: Cross-pane PC, Cross-pane PE, Triangular PC, Triangular PE, Rectangular PC, and Rectangular PE. We use ordination methods to evaluate whether species compositi...,