Creation of 'island' habitats in farmland to manipulate populations of beneficial arthropods: predator densities and species composition.

Abstract

1. Data are presented from a 3-year study on the creation of grass overwintering habitats for tile arthropods which are the natural enemies of cereal aphids.
2. During tile course of the study, densities of individual predatory species varied considerably, with Arancae and Carabidae showing successional changes from pioneer to more specialized species as tile newly created habitats matured.
3. The role of such a habitat creation scheme in increased stability and enhanced biocontrol within the agro-ecosystem is discussed.