Study

Biodiversity of soil arthropods in olive orchards: in search of predators of the olive fly

  • Published source details Ricard J.M., Garcin A., Damian-Picollet S. & Bousquet L. (2007) Biodiversité des arthropodes du sol en verger d'olivier: a la recherche de predateurs de la mouche de l'olive. Infos-Ctifl, 25-30.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Allow natural regeneration of ground cover beneath perennial crops

Action Link
Natural Pest Control
  1. Allow natural regeneration of ground cover beneath perennial crops

    A site comparison in 2005 and 2006 on two olive Olea europaea orchard plots coppiced in 1956 in the Bouches-du-Rhône, France (Ricard et al. 2007) found the plot with undisturbed ground cover had more spiders (Araneae) and ground beetles (Carabidae) (885 spiders, 69-206 ground beetles) than the plot where ground cover was ploughed (515 spiders, 27-53 ground beetles). There was a higher proportion of known predatory rove beetles (Staphylinidae) and ground beetles in the plot with undisturbed ground cover (19% and 30%) than in the ploughed plot (9% and 17%). Ground beetle species richness was higher in the orchard with undisturbed ground cover but the number of spider families was similar (undisturbed ground cover: 16 ground beetle species, 18 spider families; ploughed cover: 11 ground beetle species, 17 spider families). In 2005, rove beetle abundance was similar between orchards but species richness was higher in the disturbed ground cover orchard (undisturbed ground cover: 23 species; ploughed cover: 29 species). In spring 2006, rove beetle abundance was higher in the disturbed ground cover plot. One plot had permanent vegetation cover between rows and chemical weeding within the rows. Vegetation between rows in the second orchard was disturbed using a disc plough.

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