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Requirements of Predators and Parasites

 Food. Many natural enemies of pests and weeds re-quire plant nutrients for growth, development, and

reproduction. They may feed on pollen, nectar,seeds, sap, or plant parts, or consume the honey-dew produced by other insects. Many also may ben-efit greatly from feeding upon additional, non-pestprey on plants in and around the farm.

Shelter. Many natural enemies—both vertebratesand invertebrates—require specific plant habitatsfor nesting or for over-wintering, and to provide the

particular conditions they need in the summer. If critical habitat requirements are missing at keystages in the life cycle of insects, birds, or bats, theywill not stay on your farm.

 Protection from pesticides and disturbance. In-secticides may be toxic to predatory and parasiticspecies; herbicides may remove critical plant re-sources; and intensive cultivation may reduce pop-ulation densities of these beneficial organisms.

Principles of Farmscaping for Natural Enemies

1. Determine which species are most likely to behelpful. Find out which predators and parasites feedupon the pests that attack your crops, the time of year they are active, and the additional resources(food and shelter) that they need.

2. Know and map farm habitats. Identify fieldsand margins—and the times of year—where plantresources for these beneficial species are lacking.

3. Manage your farm to attract and retain natu-ral enemies. Use the illustration in this brochure as

a guide to protect and enhance valuable habitat andto add appropriate plants and other features.

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 Habitat for Predators and Parasis

Many invertebrates, as well as bats and birds,feed upon crop pests and weeds. Providing food

and shelter for these useful animals can help

suppress unwelcome pest species.

This brochure illustrates how farmers can at-

tract and retain helpful predators and parasites

by providing some of the key resources that

they require. Many of these practices benefit

pollinators and other wildlife as well, and are

eligible for support by Farm Bill programs.

Inside, you will find more information and

a guide to help you manage your farmland for

a wide variety of the natural enemies of croppests and weeds.

 Habitat for Beneficial Insects

 Published by the Xerces Society in association with the Integrated Plant 

 Protection Center. Financial support provided by USDA Smith-Lever 

 IPM ( 3d) funds. Text by Paul Jepson and Mace Vaughan. Illustrations

by Andrew Holder. Designed and produced by Press-22. Copyright © 2007 by the Xerces Society, an equal-opportunity employer.

 The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation4828 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, OR 97215

503-232-6639 www.xerces.org

 Prodarug

tingit’s a

Striking a balance between beneficial organismsand pests is the key to biological pest manage-ment on our farm. We don’t want to kill off allthe bad bugs.We want just enough out there to

feed our good ones.

— John EvelandGathering Together Farm

Philomath, Oregon

More Information About Beneficial Species

The Integrated Plant Protection Center at OregonState University houses the state-wide IntegratedPest Management program. The Center also runsthe Farmscaping for Beneficials program, which un-dertakes participatory research and education pro-grams with farmers. More information about in-

creasing habitat for natural enemies of pests andweeds can be found at http://ipmnet.org/.

NRCS Programs

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS) provides financial and technical assistanceto support conservation efforts for pollinators andother beneficial insects on farms. For informationon NRCS conservation programs, contact your localNRCS or conservation district office. The office near-

est you can be located at www.nrcs.usda.gov.

FARMING

FOR

PEST MANAGEMENT

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The Xerces Society is a non-profit organization thatprotects biological diversity through conservationof invertebrates. It works with farmers and scientists

across the country to protect habitats that supportnative bees and natural enemies. More informationis available at www.xerces.org.

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Native Trees Food and Shelter 

Alone or in windbreaks, trees such as conifers, willows, ormaples provide resources, travel routes, and safe haven forpredators, parasites, and insect-feeding birds year-round.

Perennial Shrubs Food and Shelter 

Native shrubs such as oceanspray, elderberry, or roseprovide pollen, nectar, and home for non-pest prey—aswell as undisturbed habitat—for predators and parasites.

Sunflowers Food and Shelter 

Sunflowers support alternative prey and providenectar and pollen for predators and parasites.They also offer escape cover for insect-feeding birds.

Insectary Field Borders and Strips Food and Shelter 

A variety of strip plantings—blocks of calendula, alyssum,yarrow, or phacelia, for example— interspersed in and around

crops are easily managed to provide resources for benefialinsects at the times and places where they are most valuable.

Harmful PracticesCultivation, field burning, and broad-spectrum pesticides disturb or kill naturalenemies and their non-pest prey. Reducing disturbance and using selectivepesticides and non-chemical controls will help minimize impacts.

Bolting Crops Food and Shelter 

Retaining bolting or floweringcrops for a time after harvest may

provide an important nectar sourcewhen and where pests are active.

Blocks pperenniacan prov

Beetle Banks Food and Shelter 

Creating permanent raised banks nearfields, and densely planting them with

bunch grasses, will provide overwinteringhabitat for predatory beetles and spiders.

Bat and Bird NShelter 

Bats forage in the air aboveof insects, including pest spProviding nest boxes for th

Cover Crops Food and Shelter 

Including cover crops such as buckwheat and clover in plantingrotations helps to build soil and add nutrients while providingpatches of flowers to support predator and parasite populations.

Weedy Patches Food and Shelter 

Patches of innocuous weeds or other annualsallowed to flower along field edges help to

provide an unbroken sequence of nectar andpollen during the growing season.