Beneficial insect populations and diversity were studied in southern California between 1999 and 2003 in summer and winter vegetable cropping systems. Ten vegetable crops were grown under three production practices, using insecticide treatments specific to conventional, organic, and nature farming (control) principles. Beneficial insects were randomly sampled through visual inspection of plants in each crop and in each system weekly. Emphasis was placed on insects that were phytophagous and predators and parasites of phytophagous insects. Insect levels depended on specific crop grown. System-wide, the unsprayed natural system had the greatest diversity of insects, the organic system the highest percentage of beneficials, and the conventional system the lowest beneficial populations and diversity.
Keywords: vegetable crops, biological control
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