Arthropod Guild Structure During Early Old Field Succession in a New and Old World Site

(1) Guild structure of the arthropod community associated with early succession from bare ground at an Old World site, southern England, and a New World site, U.S.A., was analysed from monthly samples of abundance over a 2-year period. (2) Six guilds were recognized, employing the criteria of Moran & Southwood (1982). (3) Both sites were rapidly colonized by all guilds, but the phytophages and 'tourists' were dominant. (4) Generally, the abundance (number m-2) of arthropods in all guilds was greater at the Old World site.