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one-time sampling 2022 + rapid assessment 2023 - 2025 ################ This dataset includes records of insect biomass collected using Malaise traps across the 234 BETA-FOR patches. One Malaise trap was installed on each patch near the patch centre. Traps followed the Towns design (front height: 0.90 m; rear height: 0.60 m; length: 1.60 m) with black mesh. Trapping was conducted from May to July. Traps were emptied twice per month (mid-month and end of month), resulting in up to six samples per patch and year. Sampling was carried out in 2022 for 90 patches in the University Forest and 90 patches in the Bavarian Forest and Passau regions. In 2023, the 54 patches located in Saarland, Hunsrück, and Lübeck were sampled. From 2023 onwards until 2025, sampling continued only on the rapid assessment patches located in the University Forest, Bavarian Forest, and Passau regions. Collected samples were preserved in 70% ethanol. Prior to metabarcoding, samples were separated into large and small fractions using an 8 mm sieve to reduce biomass bias from larger specimens. Samples were drained and the wet biomass of the small and large fractions was weighed separately using a laboratory balance. The resulting fractions were subsequently stored in 90% ethanol. For analyses of total insect biomass, the column "wetBiomass_total" should be used. Missing wet biomass values were estimated based on the "dryBiomass" measurement, which represents the weight of the sample after drying prior to DNA extraction. ################ We greatly acknowledge the help of: Jérôme Morinière (AIM/Metabarcoding), Linda Seifert, Michael Junginger, Elisa Stengel, Christopher Geus, Katharina Kallnik, Nina Wild, Fof Brixy, Manuel Mauermann, Kim Zimmermann, Noelle Demuth, Adèle Kieffer, Soumen Mallick, Mareike Kortmann, Interns of the Bavarian Forest Nationalpark and all other assistants