Natural Pest Research Articles

An ecological economic comparison between integrated rice-fish farming and rice monocultures with low and high dikes in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

This study makes an ecological economic comparison between three different rice farming strategies in the Mekong Delta. Interviews were made with 30 farmers with two crops of rice and low dikes (2RLd), 30 farmers with three crops of rice and high dikes (3RHd) and 18 farmers with two crops of rice and one crop of fish (2RF). 2RF farmers had the highest annual net income and benefit cost ratio, because oflow production costs and high yields of rice and fish. 2RLd farmers had the lowest annual net income. 3RHd had the highest annual rice yield, but also used the highest amount of rice seeds and agrochemicals, generating the lowest benefit cost ratio. Most farmers (70%) preferred two crops because of a higher production efficiency. High dikes and frequent use of pesticidesand fertilizers were seen to decrease the water and rice quality, connectivity and biodiversity in farms with three crops. It is concluded that rice farming with two crops, and especially if integrated with fish and applying IPM, provides a sustainable alternative to rice farming with three crops and high dikes, because it makes use of the high connectivity within the rice-field ecosystem for an efficient production of healthy food through increasedrecycling of nutrients and natural pest control mechanisms.

PENGARUH VARIASI JENIS DAN PELETAKAN REFUGIA TERHADAP KEMELIMPAHAN SERANGGA PADA EKOSISTEM SAWAH

The kind and refugia placement are very important in agroecosystem engineering, but research that combines the two in rice field is unknown. Therefore, the study aims to examine; (1) the effect of variations in the kind and refugia placement on the insects abundance in rice cultivation; and (2) the treatment which has most potential in natural pest control based on the natural enemiy diversity. The refugia used were marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) and long bean (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), while variations of the refugia placement were on the edges and in the middle of the rice planting. Each treatment consisted of 3 replicate plots. Observations of insects were carried out every 3 weeks in one planting season. The results showed that variations in the kind and refugia placement had a significant effect on insect abundance. The treatment of marigold refugia in the middle of rice planting has most potential in natural pest control because it has the highest natural enemy diversity index, so it can create a more stable agro-ecosystem.

Effects of field-level strip and mixed cropping on aerial arthropod and arable flora communities

Loss of arthropod biodiversity can impair the provision of ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. Crop diversification strategies offer the possibility to support arthropod communities without putting aside agricultural land as conservation areas. Within-field crop diversification measures, such as strip cropping and crop mixtures, may provide arthropods with continuity and diversity in food, shelter and habitat at fine spatial and temporal resolutions. However, it is unclear how strip cropping and plant species diversity within strips influences aerial arthropod and weed communities in commercially sized arable fields. In this 2-year study we tested the effects of crop heterogeneity on aerial arthropod and plant communities in organically managed strip fields. We tested effects of configurational crop heterogeneity by comparing sole cropping (MONO) with strip cropping (STRIP), and compositional crop heterogeneity by comparing STRIP with flower-legume-grain crop mixtures grown in strips (STRIPMIX). Aerial arthropod communities were assessed in 138 sweep net transects and plant communities in 124 vegetation plots in cabbage, wheat, sugar beet and barley. Higher configurational crop heterogeneity by strip cropping reduced herbivore abundances and increased natural enemy species richness in organic cabbage strips. Cabbage in MONO had a significantly higher herbivore abundance (+11%) and a lower natural enemy species richness (−57%) than cabbage in STRIP. Higher compositional crop heterogeneity by sowing additional plant species in strips (STRIPMIX) significantly increased plant abundance (+33%), plant species richness (+21%), total aerial arthropod abundance (+45%), and total aerial arthropod species richness (+21%) compared to STRIP. Our work shows that both configuration of crop areas (MONO vs. STRIP) and plant species diversity within strips (STRIP vs. STRIPMIX) can support arthropod biodiversity and natural pest suppression, but that arthropod responses differ between diversification strategies and crop combinations. Further optimization of design and management of within-field crop diversification strategies holds potential to attain biodiversity-based cropping systems which deliver multiple ecosystem services and have a reduced dependency on pesticides.

Stand-level habitat characteristics and edge habitats drive biological pest control services in the understory of oil palm plantations

The expansion of oil palm agriculture in the tropics has gone hand in hand with a sharp increase in synthetic pesticide application in the region. Due to associated negative ecological impacts, there is growing pressure on the oil palm industry to reduce chemical usage and revert to natural pest control methods. However, knowledge of the mechanisms that govern how successful natural predators are at controlling pest insect species in the understory of oil palm plantations is scarce. By using an artificial caterpillar bait method this study examines the effectiveness of three animal taxa (i.e., arthropods, birds, and mammals) as within-plantation insect predators. Caterpillars were deployed across three different aged oil palm plantation plots in Selangor, Malaysia. Data for height and coverage of understory vegetation, plot location, elevation, and canopy cover were collected. Of the three taxa studied, mammals were responsible for the highest levels of predation, followed by arthropods and then birds. Arthropod predation was higher at edge locations, in abandoned habitats and in elevated areas. Mammal predation was shown to increase with increasing understory coverage and decrease with increasing elevation. Bird predation was not shown to be associated with any of the habitat quality characteristics studied. We found that overall predation pressure was higher at the edge of plantations compared to within plantation interiors, and that overall predation positively correlated with an increase in understory vegetation coverage. Management strategies that enhance undergrowth coverage and maximise edge habitats have the potential to boost the effectiveness of natural predators in the understory of oil palm plantations.

Floral presence and flower identity alter cereal aphid endosymbiont communities on adjacent crops.

Floral plantings adjacent to crops fields can recruit populations of natural enemies by providing flower nectar and non-crop prey to increase natural pest regulation. Observed variation in success rates might be due to changes in the unseen community of endosymbionts hosted by many herbivorous insects, of which some can confer resistance to natural enemies, for example, parasitoid wasps. Reduced insect control may occur if highly protective symbiont combinations increase in frequency via selection effects, and this is expected to be stronger in lower diversity systems.We used a large-scale field trial to analyse the bacterial endosymbiont communities hosted by cereal aphids Sitobion avenae collected along transects into strip plots of barley plants managed by either conventional or integrated (including floral field margins and reduced inputs) methods. In addition, we conducted an outdoor pot experiment to analyse endosymbionts in S. avenae aphids collected on barley plants that were either grown alone or alongside one of three flowering plants, across three time points.In the field, aphids hosted up to four symbionts. The abundance of aphids and parasitoid wasps was reduced towards the middle of all fields while aphid symbiont species richness and diversity decreased into the field in conventional, but not integrated, field-strips. The proportion of aphids hosting different symbiont combinations varied across cropping systems, with distances into the fields, and were correlated with parasitoid wasp abundances.In the pot experiment, aphids hosted up to six symbionts. Flower presence increased natural enemy abundance and diversity, and decreased aphid abundance. The proportion of aphids hosting different symbiont combinations varied across the flower treatment and time, and were correlated with varying abundances of the different specialist parasitoid wasp species recruited by different flowers. Synthesis and applications. Floral plantings and flower identity had community-wide impacts on the combinations of bacterial endosymbionts hosted by herbivorous insects, which correlated with natural enemy diversity and abundance. We recommend that integrated management practices incorporate floral resources within field areas to support a more functionally diverse and resilient natural enemy community to mitigate selection for symbiont-mediated pest resistance throughout the cropping area.

Arthropods on grapes benefit more from fungicide reduction than from organic farming.

Pesticides are considered main contributors to global arthropod declines and therefore may decrease the provision of ecosystem services such as natural pest control. Organic farming and cultivating pest- and disease-resistant varieties can allow pesticide applications and their impacts on nontarget organisms and the environment to be reduced. We investigated the effects of organic versus conventional management and fungus-resistant versus susceptible wine grape varieties on arthropod biodiversity and pest control of grape berry moths in 32 vineyards in the Palatinate region, Germany. Hazard quotients of applied pesticides were calculated for each vineyard. The cultivation of fungus-resistant varieties led to significantly reduced hazard quotients and in turn enhanced abundances of natural enemies, particularly theridiid and philodromid spiders. Unexpectedly, organic management resulted in higher hazard quotients than conventional management and reduced numbers of natural enemies, particularly earwigs. Pest predation rates showed no significant differences between grape varieties or management types. Widespread benefits of organic management on arthropod biodiversity found in other crops were absent in our viticultural study region. This is likely due to the dominant role of fungal diseases in viticulture, which requires high numbers of fungicide treatments under both conventional and organic viticulture. Thus, fungicide reduction through the cultivation of fungus-resistant grape varieties is one key element to fostering the abundance of arthropods in general and beneficial arthropods in particular. Beyond vineyards, this is potentially relevant in numerous other crop types. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Mapping the global distribution of invasive pest Drosophila suzukii and parasitoid Leptopilina japonica: implications for biological control.

Insect pest invasions cause significant damage to crop yields, and the resultant economic losses are truly alarming. Climate change and trade liberalization have opened new ways of pest invasions. Given the consumer preference towards organic agricultural products and environment-friendly nature of natural pest control strategies, biological control is considered to be one of the potential options for managing invasive insect pests. Drosophila suzukii (Drosophilidae) is an extremely damaging fruit pest, demanding development of effective and sustainable biological control strategies. In this study, we assessed the potential of the parasitoid Leptopilina japonica (Figitidae) as a biocontrol agent for D. suzukii using ecological niche modeling approaches. We developed global-scale models for both pest and parasitoid to identify four components necessary to derive a niche based, target oriented prioritization approach to plan biological control programs for D. suzukii: (i) potential distribution of pest D. suzukii, (ii) potential distribution of parasitoid L. japonica, (iii) the degree of overlap in potential distributions of pest and parasitoid, and (iv) biocontrol potential of this system for each country. Overlapping suitable areas of pest and parasitoid were identified at two different thresholds and at the most desirable threshold (E = 5%), potential for L. japonica mediated biocontrol management existed in 125 countries covering 1.87 × 107 km2, and at the maximum permitted threshold (E = 10%), land coverage was reduced to 1.44 × 107 km2 in 121 countries. Fly pest distributional information as a predictor variable was not found to be improving parasitoid model performance, and globally, only in half of the countries, >50% biocontrol coverage was estimated. We therefore suggest that niche specificities of both pest and parasitoid must be included in site-specific release planning of L. japonica for effective biocontrol management aimed at D. suzukii. This study can be extended to design cost-effective pre-assessment strategies for implementing any biological control management program.

When a pest-control species becomes a pest: A shift in the foraging habitat of cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) and the threat to grazed natural ecosystems

Ecosystem services such as natural pest control and pollination may benefit agriculture, but may also adversely affect adjacent ecosystems. Here, we explored the cosmopolitan cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), a commensal insectivorous large bird which has been expanding worldwide and is often considered as a pest control agent. We assessed the changes in the distribution of this new resident and its nesting and foraging habitat preferences in Mediterranean agroecosystems in northern Israel over the last few decades. We evaluated the relative importance of reptile, amphibian and arthropod prey in its diet by analysing regurgitated food in nesting colonies, and modelled the effect of land-use on reptile prey composition. We found that a recent expansion of B. ibis has been facilitated by the introduction of cattle grazing to natural habitats, and by augmentation of human-dominated landscapes and crop fields. Arthropods have dominated the egret diet (73.75 %), but the overwhelming proportion of reptile species (19.67 %) comprises predominantly maquis dwellers, indicating high predation pressure in natural rangelands. Although B. ibis acts as an agricultural pest control agent in croplands, its function as a harmful predator in grazed natural habitats seems to be substantial. Such intrusion of a novel predator into natural ecosystems may have catastrophic implications for native fauna, particularly in human-dominated and fragmented landscapes. Our findings underscore the potential adverse effects of a naturally thriving predator on local fauna and the importance of further research to understand its actual impact on both agricultural pests and non-pest prey communities in the wild.

Dynamics of a Double-Impulsive Control Model of Integrated Pest Management Using Perturbation Methods and Floquet Theory

We formulate an integrated pest management model to control natural pests of the crop through the periodic application of biopesticide and chemical pesticides. In a theoretical analysis of the system pest eradication, a periodic solution is found and established. All the system variables are proved to be bounded. Our main goal is then to ensure that pesticides are optimized, in terms of pesticide concentration and pesticide application frequency, and that the optimum combination of pesticides is found to provide the most benefit to the crop. By using Floquet theory and the small amplitude perturbation method, we prove that the pest eradication periodic solution is locally and globally stable. The acquired results establish a threshold time limit for the impulsive release of various controls as well as some valid theoretical conclusions for effective pest management. Furthermore, after a numerical comparison, we conclude that integrated pest management is more effective than single biological or chemical controls. Finally, we illustrate the analytical results through numerical simulations.

Why losing Australia's biodiversity matters for human health: insights from the latest State of the Environment assessment.

Why losing Australia's biodiversity matters for human health: insights from the latest State of the Environment assessment.

Management intensity affects insect pests and natural pest control on Arabica coffee in its native range

Abstract Agroforestry systems provide opportunities to reduce the trade‐off between agricultural production and biodiversity, for example by enhancing a diverse community of species potentially acting as natural pest control agents. While management of agroforestry systems is intensifying across the globe, we lack insights into the impact of management intensity on pest levels and natural pest control, especially along broad management gradients and as compared with natural forests. We assessed the impact of management intensity on major insect pests (the coffee blotch miner, the serpentine leaf miner, the coffee leaf skeletonizer and damage by other free‐feeding herbivores) and natural pest control by parasitoid wasps across sixty sites in the centre of origin of Arabica coffee in southwestern Ethiopia. Within this region, coffee is growing along a broad management gradient ranging from little or no management in the natural forest to intensively managed commercial plantations. In the wet season, pest levels were largely similar in the natural forest, semi‐forest and semi‐plantation systems, whereas pests reached outbreak densities in the most intensively managed plantation system. In contrast, management intensity did not significantly affect pest levels in the dry season. The insect pests differed in their seasonal dynamics, consistently declined with elevation and were largely unaffected by shade levels. Parasitism rate of the coffee blotch miner was lower, and the parasitoid community was distinct, in the most intensively managed plantation system. Synthesis and applications : Our findings support the hypothesis that the weaker top‐down control by parasitoids in the intensively managed plantation sites leads to higher pest levels, and that—at least for some pest species—there is a threshold in the effect of management intensity on pest levels and natural pest control. It is important to consider such non‐linear relationships to maintain or enhance the sustainability of agroforestry systems during management intensification. Overall, our findings highlight that ecological knowledge of natural pest control can be used to intensify production to improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers without jeopardizing natural pest control but only up to a certain point where it starts to deteriorate.

A Comparison of Methods for Investigating the Quantitative Relationships Between Empoasca onukii Matsuda (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and its Natural Enemies

To systematically study the quantitative relationship between natural enemies and pests, this paper used grey relational analysis method, angular cosine coefficient method, fuzzy similarity priority ratio method and correlation coefficient method to analyze the closeness of the quantitative relationship between natural enemies and Empoasca onukii Matsuda in “Anjibaicha”, “Huangshandayezhong” and “Longjing 43” tea plantations. The conclusions obtained by the grey relational analysis method were used as a criterion to compare the sum of the rankings of the top three natural enemies, Plexippus paykulli, Tetragnatha squamata and Ebrechtella tricuspidata, thus comparing and discussing the similarities and differences between the conclusions obtained by the four research methods. The angular cosine coefficient method and grey relational analysis method yielded no major differences in conclusions, followed by the correlation coefficient method, with the fuzzy similarity priority ratio method yielding more varied results. According to the ranking analysis of the close relationship between the number of E. onukii and its natural enemies, Tetragnatha squamata, Hylyphantes graminicola and Ebrechtella tricuspidata are the first three natural enemies closely related to the number of E. onukii. This paper is an attempt to compare the consistency of research results of various research methods, which provides a reference for selecting research methods in analyzing the quantitative relationship between natural enemies and pests.

Pest suppression potential varies across 10 bioenergy cropping systems

AbstractTop‐down suppression of herbivores is a fundamental ecological process and a critical service in agricultural landscapes. Adoption of bioenergy cropping systems is likely to become an increasingly important driver causing loss or gain of this service in coming decades. We measured natural pest suppression potential in ten model bioenergy crops in a long‐term experimental array by deploying plasticine sentinel caterpillar mimics, which record imprints from predator attacks. Cropping systems included three intensive annual row crop systems and a range of simple perennial monocultures and more complex polycultures. We compared attack rates across the ten cropping systems and assessed differences over time within a growing season and between the ground level and canopy. We found strong differences in attack rates across cropping systems, usually with more attacks in perennial crops than annuals. However, outcomes varied in space and time, both within and among cropping systems. Birds and small mammals were responsible for most, and sometimes all, attacks in annual crops and were most important early in the season. Chewing arthropod attacks increased over the course of the growing season and were responsible for most attack events in perennial systems. In late summer there were almost no attacks in annual crop canopies, while attack rates in perennial canopies at the same time were quite high and were carried out almost entirely by chewing arthropods. Our results underscore the lack of trophic complexity in annual bioenergy cropping systems relative to perennials. They also illustrate the dramatic changes in predator activity and predation intensity that occur both seasonally and between the ground and plant canopy. Policies and practices that increase the footprint of annual crops for bioenergy are likely to cause a deficit in pest suppression services at local and landscape scales.

Biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and organic viticulture: A glass half-full

Organic farming is a promising but still debated option to ensure sustainable agriculture. However, whether organic farming fosters synergies or mitigates tradeoffs between biodiversity, ecosystem services and crop production has rarely been quantified. Here, we investigate relationships between multitrophic diversity (14 taxa above and belowground), yield, natural pest control and soil quality (14 proxies of ecosystem services) in organic and conventional vineyards along a landscape gradient. Organic farming enhanced biodiversity and pest control, but decreased wine production. Compared to conventional systems, multitrophic diversity was 15 % higher, and pest control services were 9 % higher in organic systems, while wine production was 11 % lower. Regardless of management type, we found a strong tradeoff between wine production and pest control, but not between wine production and biodiversity. The landscape context was not a strong moderator of organic farming effects across taxa groups and ecosystem services, but affected specific taxa and ecosystem services, especially natural pest control. Our study reveals that wine production and biodiversity conservation do not necessarily exclude each other, which implies the existence of a safe operating space where biodiversity and wine production can be combined. We conclude that organic farming can contribute to improve the sustainability of viticulture, but needs to be complemented by management options at the local and landscape scales in order to fully balance biodiversity conservation with the simultaneous provision of multiple ecosystem services.

Afforestation and abandonment of semi‐natural grasslands lead to biodiversity loss and a decline in ecosystem services and functions

Abstract During the past century, semi‐natural grasslands, once widespread throughout Europe, have largely been converted into intensively managed agricultural areas, abandoned or afforested. These large‐scale land‐use changes have already resulted in considerable biodiversity loss but can also lead to decline in ecosystem service provision and ecosystem multifunctionality. We assessed the impact of afforestation and abandonment of semi‐natural grasslands on the supply of ecosystem services in Western Estonia. We compared a wide array of services provided by open grasslands, abandoned grasslands and afforested grasslands. Additionally, we analysed the impact of land‐use change and species richness on ecosystem multifunctionality. Significant declines in the supply of pollination services, natural pest regulation, forage production, soil quality, wild food and cultural appreciation of landscape were detected as a result of overgrowing or afforestation. There was significant positive relationship between species richness and ecosystem multifunctionality, that is, more biodiverse grasslands were able to support more services at higher capacity. Results show that both grassland degradation due to abandonment, as well as grassland afforestation, have significant negative impacts on biodiversity, on the supply of multiple important ecosystem services and on the ecosystem multifunctionality. Synthesis and applications. Temperate semi‐natural grasslands have high biodiversity and capacity to deliver multiple important ecosystem services simultaneously. Conservation and restoration of grassland habitats must be considered as an important part of sustainable landscape planning.

Peptidomics as a Tool to Assess the Cleavage of Wine Haze Proteins by Peptidases from Drosophila suzukii Larvae

Thermolabile grape berry proteins such as thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) and chitinases (CHIs) promote haze formation in bottled wines if not properly fined. As a natural grapevine pest, the spotted-wing fly Drosophila suzukii is a promising source of peptidases that break down grape berry proteins because the larvae develop and feed inside mature berries. Therefore, we produced recombinant TLP and CHI as model thermolabile wine haze proteins and applied a peptidomics strategy to investigate whether D. suzukii larval peptidases were able to digest them under acidic conditions (pH 3.5), which are typically found in winemaking practices. The activity of the novel peptidases was confirmed by mass spectrometry, and cleavage sites within the wine haze proteins were visualized in 3D protein models. The combination of recombinant haze proteins and peptidomics provides a valuable screening tool to identify optimal peptidases suitable for clarification processes in the winemaking industry.

The Potential of the Figitidae Family as Natural Insect Regulators Pests (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

Eucoilinae, belonging to the Figitidae family, are the most abundant and diverse parasites of this family, which potentially be used for biological control in different localities and cultures and are widely distributed throughout Latin America, with a high efficiency in natural conditions. However, the diversity and biology of these individuals remains poorly understood and they are examined on a global scale. The diversity and biology of these individuals still are little known, however, reviews in global scale about them. The objective of this work is to investigate the biology, ecology, habitat, geographic distribution, taxonomy, life cycle, phenology, biological control, and work carried out on the Figitidae family (Insecta: Hymenoptera). The revision research was carried out based on studies related to the quantitative and conceptual aspects of Figitidae. A bibliographic search was carried out containing national and international articles from 1986 to 2022. The mini-review was carried out in Goiânia, Goiás, from September to October 2021, using digital platforms such as: Abstract, Scielo,ResearchGate, Academia.edu, Frontiers, Publons, Wide Science, Springer, RefSeek, Microsoft Academic Science Research.com, CAPES Periodicals, Google Academic, Bioline International, Scopus, Web of Science, Portal of Scientific Journals in Health Sciences and the internet. The results obtained from the present study indicate the need for more studies on Figitidae fauna to contribute to refine the related knowledge.

Enhancing the Value Chain of Marigold: Cultivation, Challenges, and Diverse Applications

Marigold (Tagetes spp.) is a versatile plant renowned for its vibrant flowers and multifaceted applications across various industries. This review explores the value addition of marigold, emphasizing their economic and therapeutic potential. The phytochemical composition of marigold, rich in carotenoids, flavonoids, and essential oils, underpins its diverse applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and the food industry. Marigold extracts exhibit significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, making them valuable in medicinal and cosmetic formulations. In agriculture, marigold serves as a natural pest repellent and soil conditioner. Additionally, the use of marigold in food products as a natural colorant and flavor enhancer is gaining traction.

Rows make the field: Winter wheat fields with manipulated crop architecture show potential for ecological intensification based on higher natural pest and weed seed control

Ecological intensification aims to reduce environmental costs of agricultural production by increasing biodiversity and using the associated ecosystem services instead of, or in combination with, external inputs, so that yields are maintained at high levels or increased. However, to date there are few measures available for which such benefits have already been demonstrated in the field.In this study, the seeding pattern in winter wheat fields was manipulated to create a diversified crop architecture consisting of ‘unsown-rows’ and ‘densely-sown-rows’ in treatment fields in comparison to ‘conventionally-sown-rows’ in control fields to assess whether (i) in-field structural and microclimatic conditions are more heterogeneous in fields with manipulated crop architecture compared to conventionally managed fields, (ii) a change in crop architecture is related to higher species richness, activity density and altered body size distribution of carabid communities, (iii) this in turn increases natural pest and weed seed control, but (iv) does not lead to yield loss.In-field structural and microclimatic conditions were more heterogeneous in treatment fields compared to control fields, which was associated with significantly increased body sizes of predatory carabids and a trend for increased predatory carabid species richness (in the ‘unsown-rows’ of treatment fields). These changes were related to significantly stronger pest suppression in the ‘densely-sown-rows’ of treatment fields compared to ‘conventionally-sown-rows’ in control fields, with 10 % higher experimental pest predation rates and 56 % reduced crop damage caused by cereal leaf beetles. Moreover, carabids known to consume weed seeds showed significantly higher activity densities in ‘unsown-rows’ compared to ‘conventionally-sown-rows’, which was related to significantly higher experimental weed seed predation in ‘densely-sown-rows’. Wheat yields were not significantly different in fields with or without manipulated crop architecture.The results suggest that the simple measure of manipulating the seeding pattern in winter wheat fields creates a diversified crop architecture, thereby promoting carabid diversity and altering their community composition and activity density such that important ecosystem services are increased without yield losses. Thus, beyond fostering biodiversity, this measure has, although not directly tested here, the potential for being used for ecological replacement of pesticides through enhanced ecosystem services without entailing agronomic and economic disadvantages such as land opportunity costs or increased workload.

The dominant species of natural enemies of Pentatomidae in the peak period

AbstractThis paper aims to analyse how to effectively protect and scientifically utilize the natural enemies of Pentatomidae in tea plantations in the peak period. In this paper, the spatial, quantitative and temporal relationships between Pentatomidae and its natural enemies in “Pingyangtezao”, “Wuniuzao”, “Huangshandayezhong”, “Anjibaicha”,”Longjing 43″ and “Nongkangzao” tea gardens in Hefei, China were comprehensively compared and analyzed with the methods of geostatistical analysis, gray system analysis and temporal ecotone overlap index analysis. According to the size of the closeness index, the top three natural enemies with the largest sum of spatial, quantitative, and temporal closeness indexes in the six tea gardens were Clubiona japonicola (X7, 16.514), Oxyopes sertatus (X5, 16.390) and Xysticus ephippiafus (X2, 16.270). The size of the ratio between the number of Pentatomidae individuals and natural enemies largely determines whether the natural enemies follow Pentatomidae pests closely or not. The better the growth of tea plantations and the richer the diversity of pest species, the more accurately the predation preference of natural enemies can be reflected. In the control of Pentatomidae, specific analysis should be made according to the occurrence characteristics of target pests in different tea plantations and the basic attributes of tea plantations (species, growth, population characteristics of natural enemies and pests, etc.) in order to scientifically utilize its natural enemies.