Linking landscape and species: Effect of shrubs on patch preference of beetles in arid and semi-arid ecosystems

► Species distribution and individual movement were analyzed to study shrub effect on desert beetles. ► Beetles preferred shrubs in an arid ecosystem characterized by low shrub density. ► Beetles preferred open patches in a shrub-rich semi-arid ecosystem. ► Observations on beetle movement explained these contradicting effects of shrubs. ► Beetle movement was affected by shrubs' shading suggesting dependency on shrub structure.