Abundance and diversity of coccinellids in chili pepper crop with different pest management practices

Abstract

The maintenance of non-crop plants and the reduction of insecticides may favor populations
of predators in agroecosystems. Coccinellids are important biological control agents and their
populations can be affected according to the pest management practices. The objective of
this study was to evaluate how management practices used in chili pepper fields affect the
abundance and richness of coccinellid predators. Three systems were evaluated: (a) fields
with non-crop plants; (b) fields without non-crop plants; and (c) fields with conventional pest
management (pesticide use), without non-crop plants. The management system with non-crop
plants affected positively the abundance and diversity of coccinellids. The most frequent Coccinellidae
found in the systems were Hyperaspis sp. and Scymnus sp. Non-crop plant practice
management favors the population of coccinellids and reduces costs with pest control.