Many entomophagous insects use nectar and pollen from flowers in their reproductive biology. Since 1995, various on-farm experiments have been conducted in a broccoli (Brassica oleracea) production system to explore the potential of using insectary flowers to enhance the biological control of cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) by naturally occurring hoverflies (Eupoides fumipennis, Syrphus opinator, Sphaerophoria sulphuripes, and others). The conclusions include: (1) biological control efforts need to be conducted at the species level of ecological inquiry, (2) dispersal behaviors of target species are required for appropriate scale of experimental design, (3) prey finding and oviposition behavior of key entomophagous species may be factor limiting effective biological control, (4) selected insectary plants exhibit preferential attractiveness among entomophagous and pest species, and (5) use of insectary plants in an agroecosystem must consider the multitrophic level impacts on pests, beneficials, and hyperparasitoids across all crops occurring within the system, and cannot focus on a single crop/pest/beneficial relationship.
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