This section is focused on the predators and parasitoids of key crop pests.

Pest species are part of the wider ecology of farmland and are exposed to a wide range of predators and parasitoids. These predators and parasitoids are collectively known as "Natural Enemies". Some will attack a wide range of pest species and others can be species specific. 

Related Organisations

Content below is from across the PEP community and is not necessarily endorsed by Stewards or by PEP

Connected Content

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is based on a diversity of pest management measures (prevention, non-chemical control, best practices for optimizing pesticide efficiency, etc.). These are combined at the farm level to enable reduced reliance on pesticides, and therefore a decrease in the exposure of the environment and people to pesticides.

Crop Protection

Crop protection refers to practices and measures employed in agriculture to safeguard crops from both biotic (pests, diseases and weeds) and abiotic (environmental factors) stresses. They key goal of crop production is to maintain crop productivity, health and quality whilst minimising yield losses.

Flower Power

A new Field Lab from Innovative Farmers investigating how farmers can better harness the power of flowers to fight pests.

Pests

Invertebrate pests cause problems in agriculture when the level of injury they cause reaches a point where the crop yield is significantly reduced.   

ASSIST

Strategic BBSRC & NERC programme with CEH & Rothamsted  - Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Systems,

University of Warwick

Warwick Crop Centre is a national centre of excellence for research on fresh produce. We provide post-graduate training and specialise in research projects promoting sustainable agriculture, horticulture and food security.

How to encourage natural enemies of field crop pests

Natural enemies, such as parasitoid species, are an important element in managing crop pests.

Introducing predatory mites into fruit orchards

Using the predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri can be a successful biological control solution for these sucking pests.

Encyclopaedia of pests and natural enemies in field crops

The encyclopaedia provides at-a-glance information on the pests and natural enemies associated with cropping systems.

Management to Promote Flowering Understoreys Benefits Natural Enemy Diversity, Aphid Suppression and Income in an Agroforestry System

Agroforestry systems, where productive trees are integrated into agricultural land, can deliver benefits to biodiversity, natural pest control, and pollination.

Promoting Beneficials - Technical advice sheet

The introduction of natural enemies (biological controls) has become a common method for dealing with certain pests.

A Practical Guide to Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic whole-farm approach to help mitigate the likelihood of pest, weed and disease pressure in a farming system. (Agricology)

Managing understoreys in agroforestry to promote natural enemies

 ‘Management to Promote Flowering Understoreys Benefits Natural Enemy Diversity, Aphid Suppression and Income in an Agroforestry System,’

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