Importance of arthropod pests and their natural enemies - HGCA

2. Examine to what extent non-crop habitats encourage or inhibit the movement and distribution of naturalenemies and pests. In particular, the extent to which they also affect reinvasion of fields following insecticidetreatment.3. Determine whether habitats under ES are harbouring pest populations and whether these are subsequentlyincreasing the risk of crop losses.7.2 Natural enemies1. Investigate the biology and especially diet of some of the more abundant natural enemies about whichlittle is known. Specifically:a. diet/prey selection of beetle larvae and their predation of pests, especially the overwintering stages.b. diet of predatory flies e.g. Histeridae, Hybotidae, Dolichopodidae and Emididaec. Identify those natural enemies that contribute to the control of those pests most frequently requiringinsecticide treatments e.g. pollen beetle.d. Using information above to then identify ways to enhance the most efficient natural enemies.2. Examine the movement of natural enemies, especially following insecticide applications and for thosespecies (especially parasitoids) emerging in unsuitable crops.7.3 IPM1. Investigate the use of reduced insecticide dosages to preserve natural enemies in conjunction with theimpact on reliability and persistence of pest control.2. Investigate the potential to reduce insecticide impacts using application technology.3. Examine the recovery of natural enemies following insecticide applications, the impact of scale oftreatment and importance of the surrounding landscape.4. Compare the effects of different cultivation systems on pests overwintering within the soil and the survivalof their parasitoids.67