Arthropod Diversity in Home Gardens and Market Gardens of Enugu Metropolis, South East Nigeria

This study surveys arthropod diversity in home gardens and market gardens in Enugu metropolis, Enugu State, located in Nigeria's South East geopolitical zone. Urban gardens support a variety of arthropod communities that provide pest control, pollination, and decomposition services, but their biodiversity in Nigerian urban contexts is poorly quantified. Arthropods were sampled from 20 home gardens and 15 market gardens using sweep nets, pitfall traps, and sticky yellow traps over three months. Adults were sorted, identified to order and family, and functional groups were assigned. Environmental variables including garden area, plant species richness, pesticide use, and distance from natural vegetation were recorded. A total of 68 arthropod families from 12 orders were recorded. Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hemiptera were the most speciose orders. Predatory arthropods including Araneae and Coccinellidae were significantly more abundant in home gardens than in market gardens. Market gardens showed higher pest arthropod abundance and lower natural enemy ratios, attributed to more frequent insecticide applications. Home garden plant diversity was positively correlated with arthropod family richness. Pollinator diversity was three times higher in home gardens than in market gardens. The study highlights the biodiversity value of home gardens as urban arthropod refugia and recommends reduced insecticide use and planting of diverse flowering species in market gardens to support natural pest regulation. Keywords: arthropod diversity, urban gardens, Enugu, natural enemies, pollinator diversity.