The role of entomophages in regulating the number of pests of winter wheat

The aim was to study the species composition, population dynamics and regulatory role of entomophages of the main pests on winter wheat Triticum aestivum L. under conditions of non‐pesticide crops protection in organic crop production.

The research was carried out in 2021–2023 on the territory of the FRCBPP (2021–2023), at the basic organic farms of Mezhdurechye LLC of the Tula region and Kirillov P.G. Head of Farm IE (2022–2023) of the Voronezh region, using pheromone traps, Malaise traps, mowing with an entomological net and visual observations in wheat cenoses and adjacent lands.

The species biodiversity and abundance of entomophages in the wheat cenoses cultivated according to organic farming standards (non‐pesticide protection systems) have been significantly increased every year, leading to the effective restoration of natural biocenotic regulation mechanisms. The most favourable effect of the cancellation of chemical treatments was on bioindicatory species of hymenopteran parasites of the family Scelionidae, which regulate the number of the Sunn pest,and on the complex of aphidophage insects of the families Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), Chrysopidae (Neuroptera), Nabidae and Anthocoridae (Hemiptera).

Egg parasites – telenomuses – (Scelionidae family) play a significant role in the biocontrol of Sunn pest. Two species, Trissolcus grandis T. and Telenomus chloropus T., were mainly identified. The imago of Sunn pest E. integriceps were infected by two species of flies‐phasias Clytiomyia helluo F. and Alophora subcoleopterata L. A high number of aphidophages was established, among which Coccinella septempunctata L. was the dominant bioindicator species.

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