It is well known that beneficial insects are an important component of crop pest management, but little research has been done on farmers’ awareness of the insects that contribute to good crops. Beneficial species such as ladybugs, lacewings and ground beetles help reduce the need for pesticide sprays and work hard even when growers can’t see them.
To what extent are growers aware of these influential insects, and to what extent does this awareness influence growers’ management decisions?
These are just some of the questions Agriculture-Food Canada researchers Dr. Hayley Catton and Dr. Emma Stevens are working to answer. A survey of 353 Alberta field crop growers found considerable variation in awareness of certain species. While some species, such as ladybugs, are well known, growers were less aware of beneficial insects, such as parasitoid wasps. Many beneficial insects are often invisible, yet play a vital role in pest management.
Read more below
In this episode Pests and Predators PodcastNow, host Sean Haney joins Catton and Stevens to discuss the surprising findings. From the number of farmers using economic thresholds in their spraying decisions to the pests they’re seeing in the field, this new data is unique and can be used to raise awareness of the many beneficial insect species that contribute to crops thriving.
The Pests & Predators Podcast is brought to you by Field Heroes with support from the Western Grains Research Foundation. Check out all the resources available below, including how-to videos: Field Heroes
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