Perceptions of undergraduate students on ladybugs and social wasps in ecosystems

Abstract Beneficial insects play a vital role in agricultural food production by providing essential ecosystem services. While bees and butterflies are widely recognized as key pollinators, the roles of other beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and social wasps, remain underappreciated. In Cambodia, little is known about students’ perceptions of these insects and their ecological functions. To address this gap, we conducted an online survey to assess how Cambodian undergraduate students perceive ladybugs and social wasps. Our findings revealed that students rated ladybugs and social wasps as moderately beneficial compared to other study animals. Bees and butterflies were regarded as the most beneficial insects, whereas ants and spiders were considered the least beneficial. Ladybugs were more accepted in shared habitats than social wasps, as students expressed more positive emotions toward ladybugs. This preference is likely due to ladybugs’ ecological contributions and appealing appearance. Despite demonstrating a good understanding of social wasps’ ecological roles, students were less willing to share habitats with them, primarily due to fear. These results suggest that enhancing public education, promoting citizen science, and increasing media exposure about beneficial insects could improve perceptions and support conservation efforts for these ecologically important species.