On farms, spiders are important predators who control insect populations, including pests that can damage crops.
On farms, spiders are important predators who control insect populations, including pests that can damage crops.
Understanding their role in agricultural ecosystems reveals how they could be used as a biocontrol agent to limit pest populations.
The semi-natural areas that surround farm fields are important sites for spiders and other arthropods. These habitats can provide shelter and alternative food sources for spiders when crop fields might be too harsh to live in because of pesticide use or tilling.
To determine whether spiders are effective at biocontrol, it is crucial to know the diet of these spiders and whether they eat crop pests.
Read more at University of Guelph
Photo Credit: Leuchtpunkt via Pixabay
