Chrysopidae family and flower strips as habitat management practices for the control of cabbage insect pests
Flowering plant species within a cultivated field are increasingly implemented as an eco-scheme to re-establish functional agrobiodiversity providing shelter, overwintering sites, and alternative prey and food resources to natural enemies (predators and parasitoids). We evaluated the effect of sown flower strips designed to attract and support natural enemies of Brassica oleracea pests, with a special emphasis on green lacewings (Chyrsopidae). Brassica plant blocks with adjacent flower strips were compared with control plant blocks. Flower strips were comprised by six plant species (Borago officinalis L., Coriandrum sativum L., Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Helianthus annuus L. and Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.) which provides floral resources with demonstrated positive effects on survival, reproduction, development and recruitment of lacewings.
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