Habitat Types For Beneficials
Beneficial insects need more than pests to feed on. They also need shelter, alternative food, overwintering sites and suitable microclimates.
Habitat diversity helps beneficial populations persist between pest outbreaks.
Field Margins
Field margins can support:
- Hoverflies
- Lacewings
- Ladybirds
- Parasitoid wasps
- Pollinators
They are most useful when they provide season-long flowering and are not dominated by pest reservoir plants.
Hedgerows
Hedgerows provide shelter, overwintering habitat and landscape connectivity.
They can support beneficial insects but may also shelter pests, so monitoring remains important.
Beetle Banks
Beetle banks and grassy strips provide refuge for ground-active predators such as:
- Ground beetles
- Rove beetles
- Spiders
These predators are useful for background suppression of soil and surface-active pests.
Flower Strips
Flower strips provide nectar and pollen for adult beneficials.
They are especially useful for:
- Hoverflies
- Parasitoid wasps
- Lacewings
- Pollinators
Cover Crops And Ground Cover
Ground cover can improve habitat complexity and soil biology.
It may also reduce dust and moderate microclimate conditions.
Protected Crop Habitats
In glasshouses and tunnels, habitat features may include:
- Banker plants
- Flower strips
- Refuge plants
- Pollen sources
- Non-crop habitat zones
Risk Management
Habitats should be managed, not left uncontrolled.
Watch for:
- Pest reservoirs
- Weed spread
- Disease carry-over
- Poor airflow
- Labour issues