Providing Alternative Hosts and Nectar to Aphid Parasitoids in a Plum Orchard to Determine Resource Complementarity and Distance Range Effect on Biological Control

There are many different practices that contribute to conservation biological control, but little is known about their complementarity. We tested the effects of providing food and alternative hosts parasitoids by intercropping a plum orchard with companion plants. Oats vetch were intercropped into either as single-species (oats or vetch) two-species combined) intercrops within an inter-row. The trophic resources provided these assessed, along incidences aphids in trees. found up ten host species oats vetch, extrafloral nectar was available from mixed strips. An effect intercrop type distance trees observed on aphid incidence during one sampling period. Parasitism rates exclusion cages affected type, reaching almost 60% close intercrop. However, no general tendency upon whether oats, mixture associated lower aphids. evidence effective sources for increased mortality this study. context-dependent efficiency discussed.