Objective The objective of this study is to investigate and analyze the diversity and stability characteristics of insect communities in soybean fields under different cropping patterns in the Ili River Valley, so as to provide a scientific basis for the comprehensive green pest control in soybean fields under soybean-maize strip intercropping system.

Methods Two treatments, soybean monoculture and soybean-maize strip intercropping, were set up. Samples were collected by regular sweeping net and field observation. The species and quantity of insects in soybean fields were investigated and recorded, and community characteristic indexes and stability indexes were used for analysis.

Results A total of 7349 insects were collected, belonging to 54 species, 30 families, 12 orders and 2 classes. Among them, 3718 insects (51 species, 28 families, 12 orders, 2 classes) were collected in soybean monoculture field, and 3631 insects (54 species, 30 families, 12 orders, 2 classes) were collected in soybean-maize strip intercropping field. Compared with soybean monoculture field, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Berger-Parker dominance index, Simpson dominance concentration index, as well as N_n/N_p and N_d/N_p values in soybean-maize strip intercropping field were 16.67%, 13.33%, 12.50%, 10.50% and 9.45% higher, respectively.

Conclusion Soybean-maize strip intercropping can significantly improve the diversity and stability of insect communities in soybean fields and optimize the ecological regulation effect, which provides an important theoretical basis for green control of soybean pests and promotion of biological control.