Coccinellid abundance in shelterbelts is affected more by adjacent crop type and aphid abundance than vegetation characteristics

Abstract

Coccinellidae are important natural enemies of agricultural pests in a variety of crops and there is interest in landscape manipulation to enhance coccinellid populations. Here we investigate impacts of non-crop woody vegetation variables, adjacent crop type and abundance of aphid prey on coccinellid abundance in shelterbelts adjacent to vineyards or pasture near Melbourne, Australia. Sixty sites were sampled five times at monthly intervals using yellow sticky traps. The abundance of coccinellids in shelterbelts was influenced to a greater extent by adjacent crop type and aphid abundance rather than vegetation characteristics like canopy flowers. Abundance of some species was 2-5 times highe..