Promoting agri-environment schemes for conservation biocontrol

Abstract: Three literature reviews were conducted to identify the level of key resources fornatural enemies provided by agri-environment scheme habitats and subsequent impact withincrops. Hedgerows, flower-rich habitats and uncultivated areas such as occur between fields oralong hedgerows provided the most resources for natural enemies. On the whole the naturalenemy fauna occurring in agri-environment scheme habitats had been studied and described atleast to family, however, there was less evidence of an impact on natural enemy or pests levelswithin the crop. The SAFE acronym (Shelter, Alternative prey, Floral resources and appropriateEnvironment) is proposed as a way to raise awareness among farmers and their advisors ofnatural enemies and their resource requirements.