Agricultural Engineering/Agronomy, Central Iowa, and BioCentury Research Farms

Attracting Beneficial Insects to Iowa Agricultural Crops through Floral Provisioning

Authors: Thelma T. Heidel-Baker (Iowa State University) , Matthew E. O'Neal (Iowa State University) , Jean C. Batzer (Iowa State University) , Mark L. Gleason (Iowa State University)

  • Attracting Beneficial Insects to Iowa Agricultural Crops through Floral Provisioning

    Agricultural Engineering/Agronomy, Central Iowa, and BioCentury Research Farms

    Attracting Beneficial Insects to Iowa Agricultural Crops through Floral Provisioning

    Authors: , , ,

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Abstract

Beneficial insects can provide valuable ecosystem services such as pest control and pollination for agricultural crops, but agricultural crops often provide limited food and refuge resources necessary to these beneficial insects. Planting flowers can provide some of these limited resources such as nectar, pollen, and refuge. Floral provisioning could enhance the beneficial insect community in agricultural crops if flowers are placed adjacent to the crops. This research project explores whether floral provisioning can increase the ecosystem services provided by pollinating and predatory insects in agricultural crops.

Keywords: Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Entomology

How to Cite:

Heidel-Baker, T. T., O'Neal, M. E., Batzer, J. C. & Gleason, M. L., (2014) “Attracting Beneficial Insects to Iowa Agricultural Crops through Floral Provisioning”, Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms Progress Reports 2013(1).

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Published on
2014-01-01

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