Bait test:Suitability and limits for faunistical assessments in the field

In different farming systems the activity of predatory arthropods was measured in the field with larvae of Galleria mellonella L., placed as baits on the soil. On average a slightly higher predation rate was determined in ecological systems than with more intensive cropping methods. However, the differences were small. In the trials Burgrain, Strickhof and Chaiblen the predation on bait larvae correlated well with the number of ground beetles (Carabidae) catched at the same time in pitfall traps (Barber-traps). The baits were eaten mainly by larger kinds of ground beetles. In the small plots of the DOK trials in Therwil (Bio-dynamic, organic, conventional) ants were the main predators. In cereal fields tests were impaired more frequently by snails than in corn fields.