Abstract

Habitat fragmentation represents one of the most pervasive threats to global biodiversity, with insects being particularly vulnerable due to their specific ecological requirements and limited dispersal capabilities. This review synthesizes current understanding of insect biodiversity patterns in fragmented landscapes across different biomes and geographic regions. We analyzed 127 studies from six continents to identify key drivers of insect diversity loss and persistence in fragmented habitats. Our analysis reveals that fragment size, isolation distance, edge effects, and matrix quality are primary determinants of insect community structure. Tropical regions show higher sensitivity to fragmentation compared to temperate zones, with specialist species experiencing greater declines than generalists. Small fragments (<1 ha) retain only 40-60% of original insect diversity, while edge effects penetrate 50-200m into forest fragments. However, corridor connectivity and high-quality matrix habitats can significantly ameliorate fragmentation impacts. These findings have critical implications for conservation planning and landscape management strategies aimed at preserving insect diversity in increasingly fragmented world.