Comparing floral resource maps and land cover maps to predict predators and aphid suppression on field bean.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Predatory insects contribute to the natural control of agricultural pests, but also use plant pollen or nectar as supplementary food resources. Resource maps have been proposed as an alternative to land cover maps for prediction of beneficial insects.

Objectives

We aimed at predicting the abundance of crop pest predating insects and the pest control service they provide with both, detailed flower resource maps and land cover maps.

Methods

We selected 19 landscapes of 500 m radius and mapped them with both approaches. In the centres of the landscapes, aphid predators - hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae), ladybeetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) - were surveyed in experimentally established faba bean phytometers (Vicia faba

SUBMITTER: Ammann L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8841323 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature