The book to help you understand the importance of beneficial insects in crops

Beneficial insects: biology, ecology, observation methods and agronomic benefits

Designed as an observation and reasoning tool, this book presents the biology of the main families of beneficials, the main observation and census methods available, and the agronomic interest of these families on a wide range of crops.

This guide is essential for anyone wishing to design integrated crop production systems that optimize pest control by beneficials insects and respect biodiversity on a daily basis.

It includes 3 parts:

• a precise, accessible description of the main families of crop beneficials (biology, ecology and potential for regulating crop pests, illustrated by high-quality diagrams and photographs);
• methods for observing and surveying beneficials in the field (summary tables to facilitate technical choices);
• agronomic interest for France’s main crops, with concrete illustrations of the comparative evolution of pests and beneficials on different crops (ear aphids on wheat, pest-auxiliary assemblages on rapeseed, vines, apples and ornamental crops under shelter).

In the same collection, find 3 other reference books to help you diagnose and implement alternative methods in integrated crop protection:

• Le guide pratique de défense des cultures: a diagnostic tool covering 129 crops, with the main pests and diseases, precise symptoms and the most appropriate protection methods for each, with a particular focus on alternatives to chemical control.
• Mauvaises herbes des cultures: weed reference book, it summarizes the recognition criteria for 220 weed plants (from seedling to flowering plant).
• Les stimulateurs de défense des plantes: a complete overview of all there is to know about Plant Defense Stimulators, with a corpus of knowledge and experience on these substances in different production sectors, their modes of action, conditions of use and the limits between laboratory results and field applications.