Dataset for the paper 'Sown wildflowers between vines increase beneficial insect abundance and richness in a British vineyard'

Data for paper published in Agricultural and Forest Entomology (2022). <br> This dataset includes the abundance of beneficial insects, list of flowering plants, a species list of pollinators and a species list of solitary wasps, collected at a vineyard in East Sussex in 2016 and 2017. <br> Abstract: <em>1.</em> <em>Traditional vineyards are generally intensive monocultures with high pesticide usage. Viticulture is one of the fastest-growing sectors of English agriculture, although there is currently limited research on habitat management practices.</em> <em>2.</em> <em>In a vineyard in East Sussex, England, we tested five inter-row ground cover treatments on their potential in supporting beneficial insects: two commercially available seed mixes (meadow mix and pollen and nectar mix), a wild bee seed mix (formulated based on pollinator foraging preferences), natural regeneration, and regularly mown grass.</em> <em>3.</em> <em>Over two years, from May to August, we conducted monthly floral surveys and insect surveys using transect walks and pan traps.</em> <em>4.</em> <em>The abundance and richness of flowers in the natural regeneration treatment were twice that of the regularly mown inter-row treatment. By year 2 the abundance of ‘total insects’ sampled was significantly higher in the wild bee mix compared to mown. Likewise, there was a significant effect of treatment type on pollinator richness, with higher mean richness found in wild bee mix.</em> <em>Solitary wasp family richness was highest in the natural regeneration treatment and lowest in the mown treatment</em>. <em>5.</em> <em>Given the rapid growth and lack of specific environmental recommendations for British viticulture, we demonstrate a simple and effective approach for supporting beneficial insects and ecosystem services. Promotion of perennial wildflowers through sowing or allowing natural regeneration in inter-row ground cover in vineyards has the potential to boost biodiversity in vineyards on a large scale if widely adopted.</em>