Farming with Native Beneficial Insects: Ecological Pest Control Solutions - Softcover

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This comprehensive guide shows you how to create a farm or garden habitat that will attract beneficial insects and thereby reduce crop damage from pests without the use of pesticides. Four experts from the Xerces Society, a world leader in conservation and environmental issues, discuss the ecology of native beneficial insects and show how you can conserve their presence on your land through conservation biocontrol -- recognizing these insects and their habitat, reducing pesticide use, protecting existing habitat, and providing new habitat. Specific solutions and strategies include creating native plant field borders, mass insectary plantings, hedgerows, cover crops, buffer strips, beetle banks, and brush piles. Step-by-step illustrated instructions for these projects and more are accompanied by stunning full-color photography.

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Eliminate Pesticides, Restore Biodiversity

GROW BOUNTIFUL ORGANIC CROPS while improving the biodiversity of your farm by making your land a welcoming place for native beneficial insects. Mantids, stink bugs, beetles, flies, wasps, and many others prey upon crop pests, reducing or eliminating the need for chemical pesticides.

Your first step is learning to identify these important farm heroes: close-up photography and in-depth profiles familiarize you with more than 20 beneficial insects and their kin. After assessing your land, current practices, and goals, you’ll find detailed instructions for a host of projects, from beetle banks to organic buffers, to improve habitat for your insect helpers.

PLANTING PROJECTS FOR PROVIDING HEALTHY HABITATS INCLUDE:

• Hedgerows
• Insectary strips
• Native plant field borders
• Cover crops
• Contour buffer strips
• Grassed waterways