Abstract
Enhancement of natural enemies through habitat management developed sustainable pest management systems. Landscape composition; especially complex and permanent habitat mainly woody vegetation increased the abundance of natural enemies of crop pest. Alternatively, temporary vegetation like horticultural systems decreased the abundance of natural enemies as for monocropping. The rate of parasitism is higher in diverse ecosystems than in non-diverse ecosystems due to the availability of food source, provision of nectar and sugar, as well as alternative hosts. The intensification of agricultural practices disturbed the diversity of ecosystem and ultimately reduced the abundance of natural enemies and consequently diminished the efficacy of biological control of pests in a particular ecosystem. Moreover, plant characteristics especially in long blooming period, larger floral area, maximum flower height, narrow and deepest corolla and higher number of open flower increase the accessibility of nectar or pollen for natural enemies. As a result, the fecundity and longevity of predator and parasitoid are increased. Manipulation of food sources for natural enemies especially honey dew and artificial food spray like sucrose with the supplement of protein helps to enhance the activities of natural enemies, predators and parasitoids. For example, the widely applicable shelter habitats such as beetle banks are suitable over wintering sites for predatory beetles especially for Carabidae, Staphylinidae and spiders. Increase of non-crop habitats for instance, field margins, fallow land, hedgerows etc. might improve the shelters for natural enemies. Apart from the plants in that habitat under attack from herbivore, they make responses towards natural enemies by producing Herbivore Induced Plant Volatiles (HIPVs) known as indirect plant defense. The habitat with abundant natural enemies makes such continuous support for plant by means of plant indirect defense. In a nutshell, habitat management not only conserves biological control but also provides other indirect services like increasing biodiversity, photosynthesis, the activity of soil biota, and reduced soil erosion. Besides, it can also ultimately maximize the yield and profitability of crops for the farmers and stabilize the sustainable pest management system.
Highlights
The conservation of biological control agents by means of habitat management is smart way for sustainable pest management system. It is an ecologically based approach which aim is to provide favorable habitat for natural enemies to stabilize the biological control in an agro-ecosystem
If an agro-ecosystem is favorable for natural enemies, they increase their population which makes them more successful in pest control
For such an opportunity the main research question of this review paper focus on a) Does habitat management stabilize the ecological infrastructure where food sources, alternative prey, pollen, nectar, and shelter is available for natural enemy? b) Does the integration of those resources in an agro-ecosystem provide the best environment for natural enemies? c) Does habitat management enhances the biological control of pest and stabilizes the sustainable agricultural pest management system in a community?
Summary
The conservation of biological control agents by means of habitat management is smart way for sustainable pest management system. Biological control of pest through natural enemies gave better result in the earlier adoption of that strategy, but due to high intensification of agricultural system and high input of agrochemical the classical and inundation or inoculation approaches were not well established mostly in developing countries like Bangladesh [47,4].The non-crop habitat likes woody vegetation e.g. Forest and hedgerows and herbaceous vegetation like field margin, road side, and meadow provide shelter to the natural enemies. The Lepidopteran pest in corn, maize, soybean and wheat is successfully controlled by parasitoid, if 60% alternative host is available in the field margin of those agro-ecosystems [33] For such an opportunity the main research question of this review paper focus on a) Does habitat management stabilize the ecological infrastructure where food sources, alternative prey, pollen, nectar, and shelter is available for natural enemy? The increase in percentage of non-crop area in an ecosystem through habitat management positively correlated with the mortality of insects like the armyworm Pseudaleta unipunctal [38] and reduced the infestation by rape pollen beetles [50]
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