Farming with Native Beneficial Insects: Ecological Pest Control Solutions - Paperback

by The Xerces Society (Author)

Harness the power of beneficial insects to deter pests and reduce crop damage. This comprehensive guide to farming with insects will have you building beetle banks and native plant field borders as you reap a bountiful and pesticide-free harvest. With strategies for identifying the insects you're trying to attract paired with step-by-step instructions for a variety of habitat-building projects, you'll soon learn how to employ your own biocontrol conservation tactics. Lay out the brush piles and plant the hedgerows because the insects are going to love it here

Back Jacket

Eliminate Pesticides, Restore Biodiversity

GROW BOUNTIFUL ORGANIC CROPS while improving the biodiversity of your farm by making your land a welcoming place for native beneficial insects. Mantids, stink bugs, beetles, flies, wasps, and many others prey upon crop pests, reducing or eliminating the need for chemical pesticides.

Your first step is learning to identify these important farm heroes: close-up photography and in-depth profiles familiarize you with more than 20 beneficial insects and their kin. After assessing your land, current practices, and goals, you'll find detailed instructions for a host of projects, from beetle banks to organic buffers, to improve habitat for your insect helpers.

PLANTING PROJECTS FOR PROVIDING HEALTHY HABITATS INCLUDE:

• Hedgerows
• Insectary strips
• Native plant field borders
• Cover crops
• Contour buffer strips
• Grassed waterways