Functional groups of arthropods in family farming area
Keywords:
agroecology, biodiversity, conservation biological controlAbstract
Diversification is an important strategy in family farming. Different plants consortium or diversified
crops can contribute for significant difference in the arthropods composition, like phytophagous,
parasitoids, predators and others. This work aim to evaluate the diversity and abundance
of arthropods functional groups in an agroecological familiar garden in Lavras municipality,
MG. There were three treatments with two repetitions each, being: a) shaded treatment under
chayote fruit arbor; b) Consorted treatment of okra with pepper; e c) consorted treatment of
sweet potato with cassava. The treatment okra/pepper and the treatment chayote were similar
in relation to arthropods abundance and functional groups composition. The sweet potato/cassava
treatment showed higher arthropods number as well higher phytophagous and predators
quantities. This may have occurred because of specific characteristics of the sweet potato
planting that was at the end of the cycle, where the presence of phytophagous, and consequently
of its natural enemies, tends to be larger. Therefore, we consider that agroecological
systems tend to have a balance in their trophic relationships, and may reduce, for example, the
need for antropic regulation of pest species.